Saddam Hussein's statue being torn down on April 9, 2003.

Photos of Sadr covering a statue in the Square

Firdus Square, or Firdos Square (Arabic: ساحة الفردوس; transliterated: Sahat al-Firdaus), is a public open space in Baghdad, Iraq. It is named after the Arabic word Firdows, which literally means "paradise". Photo of a USA-led staged event, where a small force of people topple a statue of Saddam Hussein, shortly after the invasion of Baghdad. ... Photo of a USA-led staged event, where a small force of people topple a statue of Saddam Hussein, shortly after the invasion of Baghdad. ... Image File history File links FirdusSquare. ... Image File history File links FirdusSquare. ... Arabic (; , less formally, ) is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... Due to the fact that the Arabic language has a number of phonemes that have no equivalent in English or other European languages, a number of different transliteration methods have been invented to represent certain Arabic characters, due to various conflicting goals: A desire to stay consistent with traditional usage... Location of Baghdad within Iraq Baghdad (Arabic: , from Persian بغداد , meaning given by God) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Province. ... Arabic (; , less formally, ) is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ...

It was the site of the famous image of American troops toppling the statue of Saddam Hussein. Many critics have since claimed that the event was staged and images of the celebrating Iraqis were doctored to make the crowd appear larger than it actually was.[1][2]. Wikinews has news related to this article: Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein in a Suit Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, (Arabic ), born April 28, 1937 , was the President of Iraq from 1979 until he was captured by the US Government following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ...

On April 9th, 2005 it was the center of a largescale demonstration comprised of tens of thousands of Iraqis protesting the American occupation of Iraq on the second anniversary of the invasion of Baghdad. The demonstration was organized by Moqtada Sadr, a Shi'ite cleric, and supported by Sheikh Abd al-Zahra al-Suwaid a follower. Occupation zones in Iraq as of September 2003 The post-invasion period in Iraq followed the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a multinational coalition led by the United States, which overthrew the Baath Party government of Saddam Hussein. ... In early April 2003, as part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, U.S. forces led by American soldiers and Marines in M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles invaded Baghdad. ... Muqtada al-Sadr Muqtada al-Sadr (Arabic: مقتدى الصدر, also transliterated as Moqtada Alsadr) (b. ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ...

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 court."

See also

• 2003 invasion of Iraq media coverage (Symbolic coverage)