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down their longtime dictator, cast as 16 feet of bronze. The scene broadcast live worldwide became an icon for a war, a symbol of the final victory over Saddam
Hussein. But for the people of Baghdad, it was only the beginning. The toppling of the statue on April 9, 2003, remains a potent symbol that has divided Iraqis ever since."
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The square remained an empty desert for years despite the large sums of money that entered the country. There was many attempts by the
Municipality to rehabilitate the square until recently in 2020, the Iraqi private sector, through the Association of Iraqi Private Banks and in cooperation with the
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In this Sunday, April 7, 2013 photo, a general view of
Firdous Square, where the statue of Saddam Hussein was pulled down by U.S. forces and Iraqis on April 9, 2003, in central Baghdad, Iraq. Ten years ago, a statue fell in Paradise Square. Joyful Iraqis helped by a U.S. Army tank retriever pulled
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cleric, and supported by Sheikh Abd al-Zahra al-Suwaid, a follower of the Green Party. Suwaid was quoted as stating to the gathered "The rally must be peaceful. You should demand the withdrawal of the occupation forces and press for quicker trials for Saddam
Hussein and his aides before an Iraqi
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Of necessity, the statue makes use of basic construction materials and methods. It is made of painted plaster, seven meters (23 feet) in height, and includes a symbolic Iraqi family holding aloft a crescent moon, which represents
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and built by a group of artists calling themselves Najin (The
Survivors). The replacement sculpture was constructed quickly and completed within months of its predecessor's removal.
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On April 9, 2005, the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, the square was the center of a large-scale demonstration from tens of thousands of Iraqis protesting the
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expressed interest in rebuilding the monument on its original site. As of 2013, the al-Dawiri statue and the surrounding columns have been removed from al-Firdos Square.
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in front of a crowd of around a hundred Iraqis. The event was widely televised, and some of this footage was criticized for exaggerating the size of the crowd.
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Central Bank, completely reconstructed the square and opened it to the public in hopes to leave behind its past and transform it into a cultural hub.
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in 2003. The image of the toppling was shown across the world and became a symbol of western victory in Iraq. At the same time, became a symbol of
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151:. The square is also located opposite the Abu Nawas Street which overlooks the Tigris River. The two of the best-known hotels in Baghdad, the
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in the center of al-Firdos Square has been the site of several monuments beginning with the completion of the monumental arch
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In April 2002, a 12-metre (39 ft) statue, designed by Iraqi sculptor, Khalid Ezzat, was erected in honor of
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The site of statue now houses a green, abstract sculpture intended to symbolize freedom, designed by sculptor
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was commissioned to replace the Saddam statue. In 2009, the architect of the
Monument to the Unknown Soldier
174:. The square is also the site of the killing of two journalists in the Palestine Hotel on the 8th of April.
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393:"بالصور- شهدت إسقاط تمثال صدام حسين.. ساحة الفردوس ببغداد تبعث للحياة مجددا | أخبار سياسة | الجزيرة نت"
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In 2003, the statue was pulled down by Iraqi citizens, with the help of
American forces during the
418:"The toppling of Saddam's statue: how the US military made a myth | Saddam Hussein | The Guardian"
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521:"Radical cleric urges protest at the square where Saddam's statue was toppled"
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Section of Firdos Square in foreground, with
Ramadan Mosque behind in 2003
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470:"Famous Pictures Magazine - Fall of Saddam Hussein's Statue"
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described it as "the most staged photo opportunity since
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in 1959. It was subsequently replaced by the statue of
553:"New Statue Replaces Saddam", BBC News, 30 May, 2003,
541:"New Statue Replaces Saddam", BBC News, 30 May 2003,
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490:"Doctored Photo from the London Evening Standard"
441:"Famed Iraqi architect rebuilds Baghdad landmark"
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139:Al-Firdos Square is located in the middle of
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588:United States Marine Corps in the Iraq War
147:and Kahramana squares and in front of the
209:that was removed by U.S. coalition forces
523:. St Louis Post Dispatch. April 10, 2005
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164:toppling of the statue of Saddam Hussein
52:Al-Sadoon Street and Abu-Nuw'as Street,
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316:. The demonstration was organized by
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132:. It is named after the Persian word
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124:) is a public open space in central
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16:Prominent square in Baghdad, Iraq
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302:ancient Sumerian civilization
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215:in 2003. A green, abstract
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507:Seattle Post-Intelligencer
472:. Famous Pictures Magazine
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583:Iraq War sites in Baghdad
245:The infamous toppling of
84:33.3146333°N 44.4206750°E
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502:"Lights, camera, rescue"
231:Statue of Saddam Hussein
168:US-led invasion of Iraq
452:AP Photo/Hadi Mizban "
290:Bassem Hamad al-Dawiri
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221:Bassem Hamad al-Dawiri
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186:The Square during the
149:17th of Ramadan Mosque
89:33.3146333; 44.4206750
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468:Lucas, Dean (2007).
422:amp.theguardian.com
314:American occupation
201:The Unknown Soldier
172:American propaganda
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370:Al-Habboubi Square
284:Replacement statue
265:'s 65th birthday.
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75:44°25′14.43″E
72:33°18′52.68″N
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110:ساحة الفردوس
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26:ساحة الفردوس
352:Iraq portal
274:Robert Fisk
211:during the
166:during the
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32:City square
567:Categories
476:2007-07-16
427:2023-08-16
403:2023-08-16
376:References
196:roundabout
365:Iraqi art
217:sculpture
115:romanized
338:See also
325:court."
278:Iwo Jima
155:and the
49:Location
555:Online:
543:Online:
527:5 March
257:in 2003
251:Baghdad
178:History
134:Ferdows
126:Baghdad
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58:Baghdad
454:Yahoo!
145:Tahrir
106:Arabic
60:, Iraq
322:Shi'a
298:Islam
529:2010
320:, a
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219:by
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