Does Fakherjie's Dismissal Represent Silencing Voices in the New Syria?
The decision to remove Fawakherjie from the Artists Syndicate reveals the continued approach of excluding dissenters despite the change in authority, raising fears of replacing one tyranny with anothe
April 16, 2025, 8:22 pm

Does Fakherjie's Dismissal Represent Silencing Voices in the New Syria?

سلاف فواخرجي

The Syrian Artists Syndicate has removed actress Sulaf Fawakherjie from its lists on the pretext of her denial of the previous Syrian regime's violations, in a move that raises profound questions about the extent of the interim authorities' commitment to the principles of freedom of expression they claim to adopt.

These measures reflect the continued approach of exclusion and accusations of treachery against political dissenters, with only a change in the identity of those practicing this exclusion, threatening to establish a new cycle of polarization and societal division.

The Syrian newspaper "Al-Watan" reported the text of the syndicate's decision, which stated: "The registration of artist Sulaf Fawakherjie is deleted for deviating from the syndicate's objectives due to her insistence on denying Assad's crimes and her disregard for the pain of the Syrian people."

The wording of the decision shows exclusionary language that lacks the professionalism and neutrality expected in a syndicate institution that should represent all its members regardless of their political orientations, and respect their right to express their opinions.

The decision carried the signature of the head of the Syrian Artists Syndicate, Mazen Al-Natour, embodying the transformation of professional syndicates into political tools rather than professional bodies serving their members.

This decision highlights a stark contradiction between the slogans of freedom and democracy promoted by the new interim authorities and their actual practices that perpetuate a culture of rejection and exclusion.

Punishing artists for their opinions and political convictions represents a setback for freedom of expression, which was long advocated by opponents of the previous regime, raising fears of replacing one tyranny with another.

According to observers, there should be space for public discussion about evaluating the past and holding those responsible for crimes accountable, instead of forcibly imposing a single narrative and silencing dissenting voices through arbitrary administrative decisions.

To Half... American Plan to Withdraw One Thousand Soldiers from Syrian Territory America First: A Policy That May Lead the U.S. Toward Isolation and Decline.

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”