When Islamic State militants swept into Mosul, Iraq, in 2014, they wandered into a pool room and declared it un-Islamic, taking away all of the pool balls with a stern warning.
This pool room was often packed with players until midnight. It as suddenly abandoned. Photographs of awards that made the owner proud have gathered dust for 2 years, and the billiard tables remained covered up.
On a good note, Iraqi Government Forces have now pushed the militants out of east Mosul and are poised to attack the west. While the owner of the pool room, Manaf Younes, is thrilled, like many other small businessmen in Mosul, his joy is tempered by uncertainty as he tries to revive his former life.
"I am broke. I had to sell my two cars to survive. Now my landlord is demanding two years of back rent," said Younes, picking up a trophy that reminded him of the old days.
He frowned at explosions in the distance, where Iraqi forces and jihadists are exchanging fire along the Tigris River. "These explosions hurt the business. They shake the billiard tables and make them imbalanced," he said.
Across from Younes' pool room stands what's left of Mosul University, once one of the finest education institutions in the Middle East.
Read more --> HERE [Retrieved 31 January 2017]
Manaf Younes Jammel, owner of a billiard hall which was closed by Islamic State militants, plays one of his covered billiard tables, in the city of Mosul, Iraq, January 30, 2017. Picture taken January 30, 2017, by Reuters.
This pool room was often packed with players until midnight. It as suddenly abandoned. Photographs of awards that made the owner proud have gathered dust for 2 years, and the billiard tables remained covered up.
On a good note, Iraqi Government Forces have now pushed the militants out of east Mosul and are poised to attack the west. While the owner of the pool room, Manaf Younes, is thrilled, like many other small businessmen in Mosul, his joy is tempered by uncertainty as he tries to revive his former life.
"I am broke. I had to sell my two cars to survive. Now my landlord is demanding two years of back rent," said Younes, picking up a trophy that reminded him of the old days.
He frowned at explosions in the distance, where Iraqi forces and jihadists are exchanging fire along the Tigris River. "These explosions hurt the business. They shake the billiard tables and make them imbalanced," he said.
Across from Younes' pool room stands what's left of Mosul University, once one of the finest education institutions in the Middle East.
Read more --> HERE [Retrieved 31 January 2017]
Manaf Younes Jammel, owner of a billiard hall which was closed by Islamic State militants, plays one of his covered billiard tables, in the city of Mosul, Iraq, January 30, 2017. Picture taken January 30, 2017, by Reuters.
