Omar Mohammed

Omar Mohammed is a historian from Mosul, known until recently only as the anonymous blogger ‘Mosul Eye’. Through Mosul Eye, Omar set out to inform the world about life under the Islamic State in his city. He is the host of the podcast series Mosul and the Islamic State, which tells untold stories from inside the Islamic State’s reign of terror, the pursuit of justice in its aftermath, and the enduring struggle of the people of Mosul for a better future. Omar is currently teaching Middle East History and Cultural Heritage Diplomacy at Sciences Po University. His focus has now shifted to the advocacy of social initiatives for the people of Mosul, including the international effort to re-supply the Central Library of the University of Mosul. At the intersection of media, academia, and civil society, Omar is motivated to develop new networks of collaboration and innovations in humanitarian action. As a historian and lecturer at the University of Mosul, he focuses his scholarly work on conceptual history and research dealing with local historiographies and narratives, micro-histories, and Orientalism. Omar is a regular media commentator on Iraq, has an MA in Middle East History from the University of Mosul, and was named 2013 Researcher of the Year by Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. His doctoral research explores history and historians in 19th and 20th-century Mosul. He now lives in exile in Europe.
"History will record who destroyed Mosul’s heritage sites — and who rebuilt them," National News, June 21, 2022
"The Taliban Haven't Changed, but U.S. Policy Must," International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT)- The Hague, October 31, 2021
"History’s rhymes in the fall of Kabul and Mosul: Flawed ideas, broken promises, and poisonous spin," Lawfare, September 2, 2021
"The Head of ISIS is a Hypocrite and a Traitor," Foreign Policy, November 19, 2020
"Exposing Terror, Building Resilience: Harnessing Citizen Journalists and Social Media to Confront Terrorism," GNET, September 29, 2020
"The Logic of Insanity: Why Groups Like ISIS & Hamas Strategically Court with Self-Destruction," Program on Extremism, November 1, 2023
"The Perilous Intersection of Amnesty and Accountability: Iraq's Legal Quandary and its Global Counterterrorism Ramifications," Program on Extremism, October 9, 2023
"Rebuilding Cultural Heritage in Mosul and Beyond: A Key Strategy in Countering Extremism," Program on Extremism, May 5, 2023
"Preserving Memory, Promoting Understanding: The Importance of Oral History in Combatting Antisemitism in the Middle East," Program on Extremism, May 5, 2023
The Forever War: The Doctrine and Legacy of ISIS Child Soldiers, Program on Extremism, February 18, 2023
"The Islamic State’s Defection & Reintegration Strategies: Transforming Enemies into Supporters to Sustain Its Forever Wars," Program on Extremism, August 25, 2022
"After ISIS: Reviving the Jewish history of Mosul" | BBC | May 27, 2022
"Omar Mohammed- The Trees of Hope in Mosul" | Le Figaro | January 31, 2022
"Rubble to Restoration: Rebuilding Mosul" | CNN | November 12, 2021
"‘Where Are the Jews?’: As Pope Visits Birthplace of Abraham, Chronicler of Mosul Calls for ‘Recognition’ of Jewish Heritage" | Algemeiner | March 5, 2021
"The Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life, 2020" | Algemeiner | December 1, 2020
"Space, Time and People: How the Destruction of Mosul’s Heritage Reshaped the Future of the People,” in Lorenzo Kamel, ed., Collapse and Rebirth of Cultural Heritage: The Case of Syria and Iraq (Peter Lang, 2020).