Nineveh Celebrates Peace Through the Echoes of History

In a remarkable celebration that intertwined heritage with hope, the ancient city of Hatra in Nineveh Governorate hosted a unique cultural festival titled “Knights of Hatra for Peace” on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The event was organized by the Public Aid Organization (PAO) in Nineveh as part of the “Amal” Project—an initiative focused on protection procedures across the governorates of Nineveh, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din, and Duhok under the umbrella of civil society engagement.

The festival brought together the rich spirit of the past and the vitality of the present through a variety of artistic and athletic activities. The highlight of the event was a majestic showcase of purebred Arabian horses, parading through the historical city’s central square, reviving the ancient glory of Hatra and captivating the audience with its authenticity and grandeur.

Traditional folklore and patriotic musical performances infused the air with a deep emotional and nationalistic resonance. In parallel, the festival also featured an art exhibition that portrayed the destruction and violations suffered by the city at the hands of extremist groups. Through powerful visual storytelling, the exhibition spotlighted the social and psychological impacts of violence while also affirming the power of art as a tool of resistance, healing, and collective memory.

The event drew a wide and diverse audience, including youth, tribal elders, visitors from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains, and representatives of local government and security forces, most notably, the mayor of Hatra and directors from the Nineveh and Hatra archaeological inspectorates, underscoring the city’s cultural and historical importance.

Participants expressed pride in this initiative, seeing it as a meaningful step toward reviving Hatra’s cultural identity and promoting peace and coexistence. Residents called on national and local decision-makers to provide greater support and attention to this invaluable heritage site, emphasizing the need for continued festivals and community events that breathe new life into the city and stimulate its social, economic, and cultural revitalization.