The relocation of the Saladin monument, which stood beside the Citadel of Damascus, has raised numerous questions and prompted a mixed reaction in Syria—both among the public and on social media. The Damascus administration says the decision is connected with maintenance and restoration work, as well as the need to repair damage in order to preserve the monument’s artistic value. Authorities say they are already studying and preparing a suitable location where the monument can once again be displayed in a manner worthy of its symbolic status and be viewed from different angles.
The monument is considered one of Damascus’s most prominent artistic and memorial landmarks. It was created by the late Syrian sculptor Abdallah al-Sayed together with Nizar Alloush and Fuad Toubal. Construction began in 1992, and the monument was officially unveiled in 1993, marking the 800th anniversary of the death of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi. The enormous sculpture depicts Saladin on horseback in a scene recalling the victory at Hattin in 1187 and the capture of Jerusalem. Two warriors stand beside him, while behind them are the Crusader commanders Reynald de Châtillon and Guy de Lusignan, shown as prisoners after the battle. The monument acquired additional symbolic significance because its image appeared for many years on the old Syrian 200-pound banknote.
The monument’s removal from its familiar location at the entrance to the citadel in the center of Old Damascus coincided with a broad public debate, particularly among residents of the capital. Opinions were divided: some supported the relocation, while others opposed it. In a poll conducted by the Syria Now platform, one participant expressed the hope that, after adjustments to the site, the monument would be returned to the citadel, acknowledging its symbolic role in the memory of the place. Another resident noted that the rather bulky monument obstructed pedestrians on the sidewalk along the fortress wall and said that its removal would help improve the area.
On social media, many asked whether the monument should have been relocated instead of addressing the organizational problems at the site. Dr. Khair al-Din Hassan wrote: “What was the solution—to move the Saladin monument, or to improve the area and remove the stalls and violations that have disfigured the surroundings of the citadel?” Activist Abdurrahman al-Saghir agreed with this assessment, saying that the area around Saladin’s statue had effectively become a place for “market stalls.” He supported “relocating it for restoration, then returning it to its former location or placing it somewhere worthy of Saladin’s history.”
Other participants in the debate rejected the idea of treating the monument as an “eternal ancient monument.” Blogger Yasser Arwani pointed out that it is only about 33 years old and therefore cannot be regarded as an untouchable historical symbol. Activist Muaz Salahani countered that the monument had become “a striking landmark and visual focal point” connected with the memory of the place, its people and the city’s visitors. Sihanouk Dibo strongly condemned the relocation, saying that removing Saladin’s statue from in front of the Citadel of Damascus, and from near the house where he died, was “a grave mistake that no argument can justify,” as well as “an attack on identity and a new wound inflicted upon it.” Writer Muhammad Mansour, by contrast, supported moving the monument away from the citadel walls, citing a UNESCO rule: a modern concrete monument should not be placed in front of an archaeological site, and there should be a distance between ancient buildings and new sculptures. It is worth recalling that Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi died and was initially buried inside the Citadel of Damascus in 1193. About two years later, in 1195, his body was moved by order of his son, al-Afdal, to the al-Aziziya Madrasa in the al-Kallasa quarter near the Umayyad Mosque. His renowned tomb is still located there and receives visitors today.
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What is the Citadel of Damascus as a historical and architectural complex, and why does its status as a cultural heritage site make its proximity to a modern concrete monument a separate subject of debate? — The Citadel of Damascus is a medieval fortress in the Old City of Damascus and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Ancient City of Damascus.” It includes structures from the Ayyubid, Mamluk and Ottoman periods. A modern concrete monument—for example, a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier—stands near or inside the citadel. Its proximity has sparked debate because heritage status requires the preservation of historical integrity and visual authenticity. Modern structures may disrupt the historic landscape, but they may also be viewed as part of national memory and recent history. This reflects the conflict between heritage preservation and the need to commemorate modern events.
Who were Reynald de Châtillon and Guy de Lusignan, depicted as prisoners after the Battle of Hattin, and how are their fates connected with the history of the Crusades and the memory of Salah al-Din in Syria? — Reynald de Châtillon was a Crusader, Prince of Antioch and ruler of Transjordan, known for breaking truces and attacking caravans. After the Battle of Hattin in 1187, he was captured and executed by Salah al-Din. Guy de Lusignan, the King of Jerusalem, was also captured at Hattin but was later released; he subsequently became King of Cyprus. The Battle of Hattin was a key victory for Salah al-Din and led to the recapture of Jerusalem. In Syrian and Arab memory, Salah al-Din is a symbol of unity and the struggle against the Crusaders; his tomb in Damascus is a site of remembrance. The fates of the prisoners illustrate his image as a just and merciful ruler, but one who was uncompromising toward those who broke their oaths.
What is the al-Aziziya Madrasa in the al-Kallasa quarter, and what role did it play in medieval Damascus, given that Salah al-Din’s famous tomb is located there? — The al-Aziziya Madrasa (المدرسة العزيزية) was an Islamic educational institution in Damascus’s al-Kallasa quarter, built in the late 12th century, around 1195–1196, by Salah al-Din’s son, al-Aziz Uthman. It served as a center for the study of Shafi‘i jurisprudence and as Salah al-Din’s burial place. In medieval Damascus, madrasas played an important role in education, religion and politics, and also served as dynastic mausoleums. Salah al-Din’s tomb made the site a destination for pilgrimage and national remembrance, while the complex itself forms part of Damascus’s historic heritage.
Full version: Removing Salah al-Din from the Citadel of Damascus sparks controversy in Syrian society