Following the fall of the Assad regime, Syrian activists initiated a campaign titled “Those Who Justified the Massacres Have No Way Back,” calling for the banishment of individuals like Salaf Fawakherji from Syria’s media landscape. As a result, Fawakherji became the first Syrian artist to be expelled from the Syrian Artists Union since the regime’s collapse.
Shortly after the announcement, rumors spread claiming that Fawakherji had fled to France seeking political asylum. He quickly denied these reports in a statement on X-Net, clarifying that he was living in Egypt, a country that, according to him, offered more than his homeland had ever provided. Fawakherji expressed his gratitude, saying, “Egypt embraced me and gave me what my country did not offer.”
Kidnapping and Assassination Claims
In addition to his expulsion, Fawakherji also reported being the target of several criminal plots. He claimed that his long-time assistant had attempted to kidnap him with the help of relatives. Fawakherji also alleged that many pro-government artists in Syria had received death threats. In March 2013, during a visit to Sudan, he claimed an assassination attempt was foiled by Sudanese security forces after he alerted them to suspicious behavior at an event.
