Tearing Up Assala's Pictures in Damascus.. And the Head of the Syrian Artists Responds

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In conjunction with circulating scenes of tearing up pictures of the Syrian artist Assala Nasri in Damascus days before her anticipated concert on September 17, the head of the Syrian Artists Syndicate, Mazen Al-Natour, sent a welcoming message to his fellow singer on Monday, saying, "Whoever has Assala like this Assala should preserve her."

Al-Natour said in a video clip published by the Syrian Artists Syndicate's Facebook page: "Authenticity means that a person sees with two eyes, not one, and realizes the importance of coexistence in this country."

He also added: "Authenticity means that we recognize that this land is the land of civilizations, the land of coexistence and peace. Authenticity means that a person, or an artist, or anyone, records their national, moral, and humanitarian stance in difficult times, at a time when recording stances has become scarce."

Al-Natour pointed to the importance and status of the Syrian artist nicknamed the "Icon of the East," saying: "Assala is not just a melodious voice, or just a commitment to art and its values and high ideals. Assala is an artist that Syria is proud of, and whoever has Assala like this Assala should preserve her," and welcomed her "in her country Syria, the land of authenticity."

The media advisor to the presidency in Syria, Ahmad Mufaq Zidan, praised the Syrian artist Assala a few days before her anticipated concert, and his praise was considered a confirmation of the official stance supporting the holding of Assala's concert on schedule.

Zidan wrote in a post published on his account on the platform "X" on Sunday: "Assala will remain a symbol of authentic Syrian art, art intertwined with its people. She has remained faithful to the trust of the martyrs until the moment of victory."

Assala will remain a symbol of authentic Syrian art, art intertwined with its people. She has remained faithful to the trust of the martyrs until the moment of victory; her last fourteen songs for all provinces of Syria will remain a cornerstone of the new unified Syria... Thank you, Assala, and thank you to those who immortalize the symbols of the resistance against Assad..#IdlibInMyEyes

He also added, referring to the "Syrian album" she recently released: "Her last fourteen songs for all provinces of Syria will remain a cornerstone of the new unified Syria... Thank you, Assala, and thank you to those who immortalize the symbols of the resistance against Assad."

It is worth noting that Assala will hold a concert at the "Al-Fayhaa" Sports Hall on Thursday, September 17, after an absence of nearly sixteen years, while tickets sold out within two days of being made available for online booking.

However, the concert faced strict voices on social media calling for its cancellation for "religious" reasons, while circulated clips showed individuals climbing on promotional banners for Asala's concert in the Syrian capital and tearing them down, while hiding their faces. Some participants in the clips attributed their actions to the belief that musical concerts are among the "sins."