Adnan al-Malki Statue in Damascus… Controversy Over Circulating Images of Old Damage
The absence of official statements fuels speculation about the perpetrators and the circumstances of the vandalism
March 24, 2025, 7:16 pm

Adnan al-Malki Statue in Damascus… Controversy Over Circulating Images of Old Damage

تمثال عدنان المالكي

Images circulating on social media showing the vandalized statue of Adnan al-Malki in Damascus have sparked widespread controversy. The monument appears to bear bullet marks and significant damage, prompting outrage over what some describe as an attempt to "erase Syrian history."

The images have fueled public indignation due to al-Malki’s symbolic status as a "national figure." Many condemned the vandalism as an attack on Syrian heritage, calling it disgraceful and unacceptable.

While lawyer Ghazwan Ahmed Ghayath al-Malki denounced the incident as an insult to the memory of martyrs and called for the statue’s restoration, the fact-checking platform Taqeed revealed that the damage is not recent. According to the platform, the destruction dates back to the period of security chaos following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.

Taqeed also published images from January 2025 showing the statue in the same condition, debunking claims that the attack was recent. The platform suggested that the resurfacing of these old images might be an attempt to manipulate the narrative in an inaccurate context.

Despite the ongoing debate, neither the Syrian Ministry of Interior nor the Directorate of Antiquities has issued any official statement regarding the perpetrators or the exact timing of the incident, leaving room for speculation about the motives behind the vandalism and its connection to the post-regime change events in Damascus.

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