Fawakherji’s defense of the regime made him a highly controversial figure, especially among Syrian activists, many of whom accused him of complicity in a propaganda campaign designed to legitimize the Assad government’s actions. His unwavering stance, even as international condemnation of Assad intensified, earned him both admiration from pro-Assad supporters and harsh criticism from those advocating for the Syrian opposition.
Fawakherji’s close association with the regime was further evidenced by his visits to military bases and conflict zones, where he was photographed kissing the Syrian flag and embracing soldiers. These symbolic gestures were widely covered by media outlets and were seen as part of a broader narrative to rehabilitate Assad’s image in the eyes of the public. In 2017, Fawakherji made headlines with a statement declaring that anyone who opposed the Syrian army was a traitor and that anyone who collaborated with foreign powers was guilty of betraying their country.
Exile and Expulsion from the Syrian Artists Union
As the war dragged on and the Assad regime began to lose its grip on power, Fawakherji found himself increasingly isolated within the Syrian cultural landscape. In the wake of his political statements, a group of Syrian activists launched a campaign called “Those Who Justified the Massacres Have No Way Back.” This campaign called for Fawakherji to be banned from the media landscape of the “New Syria.”
