Ancient madrassa lies forgotten, neglected in Baghdad
Neglect has turned the centuries-old site of what was once Baghdad's most prestigious cultural and scientific institution into a dusty old building suffocated by piles of debris and street vendors’ trolleys.
BAGHDAD — Many of Iraq’s prominent archaeological sites lie far away from cities, in the prairies and deserts, making them prone to neglect. Even famous sites such as the Nuffar ruins, the historic Kish city, Uruk and Ukhaidir Palace have weak security measures to protect them from antiquity thieves, and the places are not well developed for tourists.
But it's hard to understand the neglect of Mustansiriya Madrassa, a historic school building situated in the ancient Abbasid district of Rusafa in the very heart of Baghdad. This site has deteriorated right under the noses of antiquity authorities and the capital’s secretariat.
