[4] This acknowledgment reflects his significant contributions to documenting and understanding historical events and his broader impact on global human rights and interfaith relations.
[9] Speaking exclusively to The Independent, the historian said he hopes to collect at least 200,000 books, largely from international donations, to rebuild the university's central library and others across the city.
After the battle, Mosul Eye played a different role, ‘which is to rebuild civil society, trying to support the people who stayed in the city, trying to give them a voice, because they were voiceless’.
[12] The Battle of Mosul (2016–2017) marked a critical juncture in modern warfare, where digital technology and social media platforms played an unprecedented role in both documenting the conflict and facilitating humanitarian interventions.
His unique position as a native of Mosul with an in-depth understanding of the city's geography, coupled with his access to social media, enabled him to coordinate and assist in numerous rescue operations, saving the lives of civilians trapped in the conflict.
[13] Remaining undercover throughout the battle, Mohammed utilized platforms such as Twitter (now X) and Facebook to establish direct lines of communication with civilians besieged within Mosul.
His ability to receive real-time information from residents and their relatives, combined with his extensive knowledge of the city, allowed him to provide precise coordinates and detailed descriptions of locations to the Iraqi security forces and the international coalition.
One of the most notable rescue operations orchestrated by Mohammed occurred in January 2017, when he facilitated the evacuation of a family of six from east Mosul after their home was struck by a missile.
The attack resulted in the death of the husband and a nine-year-old son, while the surviving members—comprising the mother and her three remaining children—were left trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation.
The family was subsequently rescued and transported to Erbil for urgent medical treatment, exemplifying the critical impact of digital platforms in life-saving operations.
By providing precise location data to the Iraqi Golden Brigade and Federal Police, he facilitated a successful operation that underscored the evolving role of social media as a tool for real-time coordination in conflict zones.
His operations not only demonstrated the potential of social media to mobilize humanitarian efforts but also highlighted the interconnectedness of global communities in times of crisis.
The ability to hear directly from those who had been rescued, and to know that his efforts had spared lives, provided a powerful validation of the role that digital platforms can play in humanitarian intervention.
[16] In an interview with CNN on February 2, 2017, Mohammed explained his reasoning: "When you learn to care for animals and show kindness to them, you come to understand the value of human life.
He has travelled to various countries, including the United States and Russia, to make speeches and participate in talks, while lecturing and advocating at universities, institutes, and other global venues.
Limpert was executed in the final days of the war for cutting telephone lines at an abandoned Wehrmacht command post in Ansbach, Germany.
[27] On July 12, 2017, during a visit to Iraq, Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel laureate, sought to meet with Mohammed, the anonymous activist behind "Mosul Eye."
This initiative seeks to capture the personal stories, traditions, and memories of former Jewish residents, many of whom were forced to leave Mosul in the mid-20th century due to rising tensions and political changes in Iraq.
Through this project,Mohammed has meticulously gathered testimonies and narratives from members of the Jewish diaspora originally from Mosul, ensuring that their experiences and contributions to the city's history are not forgotten.
Additionally, his work includes efforts to identify and preserve physical remnants of Mosul's Jewish heritage, such as synagogues and cemeteries, which stand as silent witnesses to the community's once vibrant presence.
[30] Mohammed's dedication to documenting the Jewish history of Mosul is part of his broader mission to promote a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of the city's past.
As Mohammed noted, "A tree doesn’t have a religion or ethnicity," highlighting the initiative's focus on providing benefits such as clean air and improved public spaces.
Recognizing the long-term challenges posed by climate change, the initiative helped bring this issue to the forefront in Mosul, leading to increased research and awareness efforts within the community.
This event, orchestrated by Mohammed, was the culmination of a dream to bring music back to Mosul, a city that had been silenced by years of conflict under the control of ISIL.
[35] The chosen venue for this significant event was the ancient palace of Esarhaddon, near the shrine of Jonah, a site sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.
The location was symbolic: it represented Mosul's rich heritage, the shared history of its diverse communities, and the resilience of a city that was beginning to rise from the ashes of destruction.
Mohammed's efforts to bring music back to Mosul exemplify his broader mission to revive the city's cultural and social fabric, demonstrating that even in the darkest of times, the arts can serve as a powerful force for healing and reconciliation.
It was a collaborative effort initiated by Mohammed and Austrian politician Josef Weidenholzer, supported by Austria's national public broadcasting organization.