Assala Nasri returns to Damascus after 15 years in exile

DAMASCUS: Syrian singer Assala Nasri has returned to Damascus after 15 years away from her homeland, drawing thousands of emotional fans to a sold-out concert in the capital following years of exile over her opposition to former president Bashar al-Assad.

The 57-year-old singer, widely known simply as Assala, received a warm welcome from the audience when she appeared on stage on Thursday night. She bowed to the crowd before beginning her performance with songs celebrating Syria and its people.

Expressing her emotions, Assala told the audience that she had deeply missed her homeland and had long dreamed of performing in Damascus again. Her remarks were met with loud cheers as many fans waved small Syrian flags and sang along with her.

The concert was held under tight security after some conservative religious figures and groups had called for the event to be cancelled. Despite the criticism, the concert went ahead, with half of its proceeds set to be donated to charity.

Syrian authorities have publicly welcomed Assala’s return. Culture Minister Mohammed Yassine Saleh attended the concert and described the singer as “the daughter of Damascus”. He said her return represented the return of Syrians who had remained committed to their country and freedom.

Assala was one of the prominent Syrian artists to publicly support the peaceful protests against Assad’s government that began in 2011. She refused to participate in events associated with the government and was subsequently removed from the Syrian artists’ union. She also faced criticism and media campaigns because of her political position.

She later settled in Cairo with her family, continuing her musical career and performing across the Arab world. The conflict that followed the 2011 uprising developed into a devastating civil war that lasted more than a decade and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.

Her return to Damascus comes after the fall of Assad’s government in 2024. Assala and her family arrived in the capital earlier this week. During the visit, an antiques dealer returned to her an oud that had belonged to her late father, a well-known Syrian musician.

The singer’s latest project, The Syrian Album, reflects Syria’s diverse cultural heritage. It features traditional songs representing all 14 Syrian provinces and pays tribute to regions affected by years of conflict and violence.

At Thursday’s concert, Assala performed songs from the new album as well as some of her popular tracks, including “Samehtak” and “Sandooq”. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause and, at several points, emotional singing.

The concert had faced opposition from some conservative religious figures. Egyptian preacher Hani Dahab launched a social media campaign demanding its cancellation, while Syrian Salafi preacher Abdul Razzaq al-Mahdi criticised the event. A group of Damascus-based preachers also urged officials to consider what they described as the religious identity of Syrian society.

Assala did not directly respond to the criticism but stressed the importance of culture during difficult times, saying that recovery could be achieved through art and music.

Her return comes as Syria experiences renewed cultural activity alongside debates over the role of conservative religious movements and the future of artistic and social freedoms.

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