Syrian Singer's Return to Damascus

Nasrin Abu Ghosh here. Hello.

Hello, Elior.

What's the story?

So,

the story is, first of all, at long last, the dream is becoming

a reality, as you said. Uh, after 15 years

away from her homeland, the Syrian singer

the most prominent one, Assala Nasri, returns to Damascus,

the city where she was born and raised. And indeed, with this visit

as you can see, they welcomed her like a heroine who finally returned at last

to her country. Uh, it stirred up, uh, around

This whole return caused quite a storm, huh?

And it turned from a musical matter into a political one. Why?

To understand this story, we need to go back to 2011.

Asala Nasri was the first to express support for the uprising against

Bashar al-Assad's regime, and this created, uh...

a very intense dispute between her and

the Syrian establishment, which expelled her from the Artists' Syndicate,

and also banned her from performing and singing in Syria, so

she was forced to spend 15 years outside, uh...

her country. When she returned, of course, there was

uh, a musical matter. She released a song called "Asala Rja'at"

Assala's return there to Damascus, where

she tells a story of longing, of how connected she is

to her homeland.

Um.

A voice that left no dry eye, at least among Syrians.

Let's listen.

Come on.

She's got one hell of a voice.

Absolutely.

Yes, I can see you were moved.

I really love this great singer, and tonight,

she will perform for the first time in 15 years onstage

in Damascus, and it will truly be a picture

of her victory over the fallen Assad regime,

and it will also be under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture

and the Artists' Union.

Yes.

And what did they have to say, alongside the very

veteran and esteemed actress named Muna Wassef,

about Assala's return? Let's listen together.

Assala is not just a singing voice. Not just a commitment to art, its values, and the proper,

lofty morality.

Assala is a singer

Syria is proud of.

What can I tell you? I mean, it goes without saying.

But when I want

to take part,

I don't know if

I'll be here. Of course we'll take part. All of Syria will turn out for

Assala.

Amazing. Nasrin.

Amazing.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Okay, until—