Marjeh Square (), also known as "Martyrs' Square" ( ''sāḥat ash-Shuhadā’''), is a square in central

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

, Syria, just outside the walls of the old city. The Syrian

Interior Ministry An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement. In some states, the ...

has its headquarters in the square.

History

The square was built by the

Ottomans Ottoman may refer to: * Osman I, historically known in English as "Ottoman I", founder of the Ottoman Empire * Osman II, historically known in English as "Ottoman II" * Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empir ...

in the late nineteenth century. A new post office and municipality were built there using steel and cement, new materials for Damascus at that time. The Ottomans publicly executed seven Syrian national activists in the square on

Martyrs' Day Martyrs' Day are days observed in or by some countries, including the United States, Japan, India, Brazil, Canada and Australia, to recognise martyrs such as soldiers, revolutionaries or victims of genocide. Below is a list of various Martyrs' Days ...

, 6 May 1916, and it is for this reason known as "Martyrs' Square". After the French took control of Syria they continued to use the square for the same purpose. Fakhri Hassan al-Kharrat, son of the

Great Syrian Revolt The Great Syrian Revolt (), also known as the Revolt of 1925, was a general uprising across the State of Syria (1925–1930), State of Syria and Greater Lebanon during the period of 1925 to 1927. The leading rebel forces initially comprised figh ...

leader

Hasan al-Kharrat Abu Muhammad Hasan al-Kharrat ( ''Ḥassan al-Kharrāṭ''; 1861 – 25 December 1925) was a Syrian revolutionary and one of the principal rebel commanders of the Great Syrian Revolt against the French Mandate. His main area of operations was i ...

, was hanged there in 1925–26. On 18 May 1965, Israeli spy

Eli Cohen Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen (‎; ‎; 26 December 1924 – 18 May 1965) was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy. He is best known for his espionage work in Syria between 1961 and 1965, where he developed close relationships with the Syrian poli ...

was publicly hanged in Marjeh Square.Thomas, Gordon: ''Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad'' Damascus-29.jpg, The Post Office building in Marjeh Square in 1890 Syriancorpse.jpg, Public hanging in Marjeh Square during the

Arab Revolt The Arab Revolt ( ), also known as the Great Arab Revolt ( ), was an armed uprising by the Hashemite-led Arabs of the Hejaz against the Ottoman Empire amidst the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. On the basis of the McMahon–Hussein Co ...

in 1916–1918 Marjeh, het plein der martelaren, Bestanddeelnr 255-5841.jpg, The Telegraph Column in 1950 Eli Cohen.jpg,

publicly hanged in Marjeh Square on 18 May 1965 Marjeh square 2009.jpg, Marjeh Square in 2009

References

1890 establishments in the Ottoman Empire Squares in Damascus {{Syria-stub