Social media has seen heated debate over the construction of Al-Zahraa Mosque in Dana, northern Idlib, Syria. Supporters hail the mosque—funded by a displaced family from Maarrat al-Numan in honor of their mother, Hajjah Zahraa—as a generous community project. They view objections to the mosque’s black color and name as attempts to detract from a charitable initiative benefiting local residents.
The family contributed four kilograms of gold for the mosque’s completion, choosing the name Al-Zahraa as a personal tribute. Supporters criticized the Ministry of Endowments of the “Salvation Government” for considering changes to the mosque’s name and color in response to social media pressure, arguing that this legitimizes baseless criticisms.
Northern Syrian journalists also opposed the ministry’s response, calling the objections politically motivated rather than genuinely concerned with religious identity, and urging the ministry to prioritize social cohesion.
Advocates highlighted that Islamic architecture evolves to reflect diverse environments and that opposition based on color or decor is unfounded, emphasizing that the mosque symbolizes cultural openness and the appreciation of Islamic art, rather than a focal point for discord.
