Syrian Singer Assaulted in Aleppo’s al-Bab Amid Controversy Over Political Views
Syrian singer Omar Khairi assaulted in al-Bab: Head shaved, face scribbled on in viral video. Activists blame political/religious motives; govt denies security forces' involvement as cultural tensions flare.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Syrian social media was set ablaze over the weekend following reports that singer Omar Khairi was assaulted in the northern Aleppo city of al-Bab. The attack, which included forcibly shaving his head and writing on his face, was captured in circulating videos, drawing condemnation and controversy amid competing narratives about its motive and perpetrators.
Footage shared widely online showed a group of individuals surrounding Khairi, forcibly cutting his hair, scribbling on his face, and subjecting him to degrading language. In the videos, Khairi was also reportedly compelled to chant slogans in support of the Syrian transitional authorities.
Activists alleged that the assault took place while Khairi was performing at a wedding party, which was abruptly interrupted by a group of men who stopped the event, detained him, and physically assaulted him. Some social media users speculated that the attack was politically motivated, pointing to Khairi’s past support for former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Others suggested it stemmed from religious or ideological opposition to public musical performances.
However, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) later cited Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba, who firmly denied any involvement of Syrian security forces in the incident.
“We categorically deny the rumors circulating on social media about a folk singer being assaulted by security personnel in al-Bab,” al-Baba stated. “No security body had any role in the reported incident.”
He further criticized what he called "systematic disinformation campaigns" aimed at tarnishing the image of Syria’s security apparatus. “We operate transparently. If a mistake occurs, we acknowledge and hold those responsible to account. But we will not remain silent in the face of lies and fabricated accusations,” he said.
As public concern grows over the safety of artists and the politicization of cultural expression, the incident continues to resonate across Syria’s fragmented social and political landscape, spotlighting broader tensions over freedom, identity, and authority in opposition-held territories.
