Protesters Tear Down Ads for Nassri’s Damascus Concert Set for September 17

Unusual activity unfolded in Damascus as a group of individuals tore down advertising billboards promoting a forthcoming concert by Syrian singer Asalah Nassri.

Concert Scheduled After Years Away from Home

The musical performance is scheduled to take place on September 17 at Al-Fayhaa Hall — marking Nassri’s return to Syria after several years away from the country.

Religious Objections Drive Public Action

Those responsible for removing the posters justified their actions by describing the concert as “sinful,” transforming the act into an open public demonstration against artistic events they deem religiously impermissible. This stance echoes earlier commentary by Syrian-based Egyptian preacher Muhammad Khair al-Dhahabi, leader of the “Wearing the Niqab” campaign, who publicly criticized the concert following remarks by Syria’s Minister of Culture regarding Nassri’s planned appearance.

Social Media Amplifies Division

Online accounts responded to the billboard removal with clear polarization: some supported the action as aligned with religious principles opposing gender mixing and singing, while others viewed it as an infringement on personal and artistic freedoms.

Broader Pattern of Event Cancellations

This controversy is not isolated. Recent months have seen multiple concerts either canceled or prohibited before taking place. Opponents frequently cite performers’ prior political positions — particularly expressions of allegiance to the former Syrian regime — as grounds for objection. Nassri occupies a contested position in this context: she was among the most prominent critics of the former regime, yet has also performed widely known songs that praised the former regime and its figures using laudatory language — a duality that sustains ongoing debate about her stance.

Religious Authorities Expand Institutional Influence

Beyond political considerations, religious clerics have assumed growing influence across state institutions since the fall of the former regime. Their religious directives now serve as official reference points for administrative decisions — spanning schools and ministries to specialized sectors such as fisheries management — and include enforcing modest dress codes for female employees and workers across government agencies.

Uncertainty Surrounds Official Tolerance

The current episode unfolds amid broader ambiguity about official tolerance thresholds. For instance, last month, electricity was abruptly cut during Lebanese singer Marwan Khoury’s concert at the Damascus International Fair’s exhibition grounds — part of the fair’s most recent edition. No official explanation has been issued for the outage, nor was there any recorded audience protest, prompting questions about which types of cultural activities are permitted and how such events are managed under present conditions.