Main content

Overcoming IS terror with books

Dr Alaa Hamdon is on a mission to rebuild a library destroyed by the Islamic State group

Dr Alaa Hamdon is a geologist from the Iraqi city of Mosul who always loved books. One of the most magical places for him in the city was the university library - with over a million books, it was the biggest of its kind in the Middle East. That was until the Islamic State group took over the city in 2014 and burned down the library. Dr Hamdon is now made it his mission to restore the library. He's been telling Emily Webb his story.

Image: Dr Alaa Hamdon
Credit: Book Aid International

Release date:

Available now

18 minutes

Podcast