Archive for February 9th, 2008
Reconstruction to begin on Askariyya Shrine in Samarra
In February 2006, two bombs were detonated inside the Askariyya Shrine in Samarra, destroying its gold dome. In 2007, several more explosions destroyed the shrine’s two minarets. Reconstruction has now begun on the mosque, which is the final resting place of the 10th and 11th Imams — al-Hadi and al-Askari.
Here is a RealPlayer video of the aftermath of the Askariyya bombings.
Al-Manar reports that the reconstruction will take place in two phases. The first will involve clearing the rubble and collecting salvageable pieces of the gold dome. In the second stage, a Turkish company, specializing in reconstruction will restore the building’s shape under the supervision of UNESCO. The cost is estimated at $50 million dollars.
