The city of Mosul, Iraq, held its third World Peace Festival last Friday, and residents of the former war-torn city celebrated diversity and coexistence through music, dance and art performances.
The event's coordinator, Saqr Zakaria, said the festival was held in a dense forest in eastern Mosul, where ISIS had been training and training its fighters.
The festival comes as part of a joint effort by the city's residents to call for peace, security and coexistence after liberation, and was organized by a group of 100 young volunteers.
An Erbil Christian, Steve Ashti, said he was happy to see all the components of Iraq in Mosul.
Artists and musicians from different religions and sects participated in the festival, presenting the city's unique culture and heritage through musical performances, talent shows and performances of art, industry and handicrafts.
A girl from Mosul, Aseel Haitham, said the festivals bring life, joy and safety to Mosul.
Rami al-Abadi, director of the Supreme Council for Mysticism in Iraq, said many people from different backgrounds - Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Shabaks, Yazidis, Christians and Muslims - took part in the festival.
The festival, which lasted from 27 to 28 September, was attended by thousands of Mosul and other Iraqi provinces.