Firdos Square

Al Firdos Square is one of the most well-known public squares in Baghdad, located on the Rusafa side of the Tigris River. It is overlooked by landmark hotels such as the Ishtar (Sheraton) and Palestine (Meridien), as well as the historic 17 Ramadan Mosque that faces the square.

The square has witnessed major political and architectural transformations over the decades. During the era of President Abdul Karim Qasim, it was home to the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, a symbol of national pride. However, in 1982, that monument was demolished and replaced with a statue of President Saddam Hussein, erected in honor of his 65th birthday. The statue stood approximately 12 meters tall.

On April 9, 2003, during the U.S.led invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein’s statue was famously toppled in Al Firdos Square a moment that came to symbolize the fall of an entire regime. That event etched the square into the collective memory of Iraqis and the world alike, marking it as a historic site of political transformation.