The Sulaymaniyya Takiyya Mosque in Damascus reopened on Monday following the completion of a 15-year restoration and rehabilitation effort. The reopening ceremony was led by Mohammad Abu Al-Khair Shukri, Syria’s Minister of Endowments, and attended by several other officials, including the ministers of finance, culture and tourism, as well as the governor of Damascus.

Mohammad Abu Al-Khair Shukri described the mosque as more than a place of worship, calling it a “cultural landmark and an educational and social edifice” that holds significance across the Levant. He highlighted the role of the Islamic endowment in Damascus, which dates back 500 years, as a living testament to social solidarity, providing for those in need and supporting pilgrim caravans. Shukri emphasized that reactivating mosques and maintaining their educational and preaching roles, along with preparing their administrators, remains central to the mission of the Ministry of Endowments.

Culture Minister Mohammad Yazmin Al-Saleh underscored the reopening as a part of Syria’s broader recovery process, a step toward restoring the historical and cultural heritage of Damascus and the country. He characterized the mosque as a structure that embodies the collective memory of the Syrian people. Al-Saleh further stressed that the preservation of national identity and heritage is a shared responsibility that requires coordinated efforts from institutions across Syria’s provinces.

The Sulaymaniyya Takiyya Mosque, which has stood for centuries as both a religious and social institution, now resumes its functions after significant investment in its restoration, reflecting ongoing initiatives to rehabilitate Syria’s cultural landmarks amid the country’s recovery efforts.