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Anti-Assad Music Star Makes Triumphant Return to Syria
The Syrian singer returned after years of exile, and organizers framed the show as a tribute to her support for the uprising since 2011.
- On Thursday, Syrian singer Assala Nasri performed a sold-out homecoming concert in Damascus after 15 years of exile. Thousands of fans welcomed the 57-year-old artist, who arrived in the capital on Tuesday and opened the show with songs hailing the Syrian people.
- Assala faced exile following her vocal opposition to ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad and support for peaceful anti-Assad protests in 2011. The singer lived in Cairo during the 13-year civil war that killed more than half-a-million people.
- Performing tracks from "The Syrian Album," Assala covered folk songs from all 14 of Syria's provinces as homage to cultural diversity. Culture Minister Mohammed Yassine Saleh dubbed her "the daughter of Damascus" during the emotional event.
- Syria's new Islamist authorities, who overthrew Assad in 2024, welcomed Assala back despite religious conservatives launching a campaign to cancel the concert. Organizers maintained heavy security and pledged half of proceeds to charity.
- While Syria has experienced a cultural boom since 2025, the rise of conservative religious preachers raises fears of future restrictions on artistic freedom. Concert-goer Lynn Nahas, 40, reflected the broader sentiment: "We are very happy that our country is moving forward.
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11 Articles
11 Articles
Radio France Internationale+5 Reposted by 5 other sources
Anti-Assad music star makes triumphant return to Syria
·Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
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Large audience welcomes Assala back to Damascus stage
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·Syrian Arab Republic (the)
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Assala Nasri, a Syrian musician who faced various pressures and sanctions from the Assad regime for supporting the revolution, met with her audience in Damascus after 15 years.
·Istanbul, Türkiye
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Assala Nasri: Anti-Assad music star makes triumphant return to Syria
·Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
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Assala Performs a Raucous Concert in Damascus After a 15-Year Absence, Amid a Campaign by Islamists.
Damascus: After a 15-year absence, Syrian artist Asala Nasri, known for her opposition to the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad, performed a concert in Damascus on Thursday before thousands of her fans. At the al-Fayhaa Sports Hall, Asala's audience gathered amidst tight security measures, following a campaign led by Salafist preachers who demanded the cancellation of the concert and all other musical events nationwide, claiming that she …
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left, 43% Center
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
43% Center
L 43%
C 43%
14%
Factuality
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