Baghdad, Iraq CNN —Condemnation grew in Iraq after a 300-year-old minaret, viewed as a heritage site by the Ministry of Culture, was demolished in the southern city of Basra on Friday.
Built in 1727, the 11-meter Siraji minaret, was demolished to create road expansion following complaints of traffic around the mosque, Basra Governor Assad Al Eidani said in a televised interview with Al Taghyeer news channel on Friday.
He added that the leveling was a necessary step for road expansion in a growing city experiencing traffic jams.
Local residents and government officials were left furious with the decision to proceed with the demolition.
A resident of Basra, Ahmed Ali Ibrahim, told CNN that the people of the city “are in pain” over the demolition of the historic minaret.
Persons:
Basra Governor Assad Al Eidani, Al, Al Eidani, Ahmed Al Badrani, Ahmed Ali Ibrahim, ” Ibrahim
Organizations:
Iraq CNN, Ministry of Culture, Iraq’s, CNN
Locations:
Baghdad, Iraq, Basra, Basra Governor