The first Friday prayer in 15 years was held at the historic Sulaymaniyah Hospice Mosque in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which dates back to the Ottoman period, after its restoration was completed and reopened.
The mosque, which remained closed for worship for many years due to the war in Syria, witnessed a large participation of Damascus residents to hold prayers.
The Turkish ambassador in Damascus, Noah Yalmaz, participated in the prayer. After the prayer, he met with the Syrian Minister of Endowments, Muhammad Abu Al-Khair Shukri, and also provided the visitors with information about the hospice buildings and the persons buried in them.
Yilmaz expressed his pride for performing prayers in the historic place after a long pause and said: "This is a source of great pride for us, and no matter how proud we are, it will not be enough." He explained that the hospice, with the garden, the market, the Salmiya school, the tomb of the Ottoman Sultan Wahid al-Din and the service facilities, is a candidate to be one of the prominent cultural centers in Damascus.
Interact to get all new updates