The Syria passport watermark story centres on a Damascus market image that appears to retain a photographer’s name inside the biometric passport design.
DAMASCUS: The Syria passport watermark has drawn fresh attention online after people noticed that an image of Damascus’ historic Souq al-Hamidiyah appears inside the country’s biometric passport with a photographer’s watermark still visible.
The image carries the words “WASEEM ASMAR PHOTOGRAPHY”, raising questions about how the photograph was selected for the official document.
Historic Damascus market appears inside passport
The photograph shows Souq al-Hamidiyah, one of Damascus’ best-known historic marketplaces. According to reports, the picture was taken by Syrian photographer Wissam Asmar during a visit to Damascus in 2009.
The unusual detail is that the photographer’s identifying watermark appears to have remained on the image when it was incorporated into the passport artwork.
Reports say Asmar was not contacted for permission before the photograph was used. He later became aware of the image’s appearance inside the passport after being alerted online.
Design dates back to previous Syrian government
The Syria passport watermark does not appear to be a new design introduced by Syria’s current authorities.
Fact-checking outlet Radar reported that the image was already part of the biometric passport issued in 2023, during the rule of former president Bashar al-Assad. That means the design predates Syria’s current post-Assad administration, despite some social media posts presenting the issue as a recent government error.
The biometric passports featuring the artwork remain relevant because documents issued under the earlier design can continue to circulate until they expire or are replaced.
Why the watermark attracted attention
Official passports typically use carefully commissioned images, illustrations and security elements. The presence of a visible commercial photography watermark is therefore unusual and has turned what might otherwise have been a minor design detail into a widely shared curiosity.
The image has also prompted discussion over copyright and government use of creative work. While reports say the photographer did not authorise the image’s use, there has been no confirmed public announcement of compensation or legal action linked to the photograph.
Old design finds a new online audience
The renewed discussion shows how older design details can suddenly attract global attention when passport pages or photographs are shared on social media.
The Syria passport watermark has become particularly striking because the photographer’s name is visible within a document designed to represent the country internationally.
Impact to expect
The story is unlikely to affect the validity of Syrian passports, but it may increase scrutiny of how official government documents source photographs, artwork and other copyrighted material.
