In August 2025, Syrian authorities in Tartus halted scheduled performances of the play “كل عار وأنتم بخير / All Naked, and You’re Doing Fine” by the Malas brothers, Mohammad and Ahmad Malas, and suspended their theater workshops. The brothers publicly linked this decision to their earlier Facebook statement criticizing the transitional government’s continued violence and abuses, framing the suspension as retaliation for their political speech rather than a neutral administrative act.
Official Denial and the “Misunderstanding” Narrative
Shortly after the incident, the Syrian Ministry of Culture issued a formal clarification, denying that it had ever ordered a ban on the play. State and pro‑government outlets repeated that performances “are continuing” and that artists’ political opinions should not affect their right to stage work, attributing the halt to a “misunderstanding” or error by a local employee rather than a policy decision. This allowed the ministry to maintain a public stance of defending artistic freedom while avoiding any admission of political interference or accountability for the initial cancellation.
Resumption of Performances, but No Formal Reversal
On the ground, the Malas brothers did resume performances: the play was staged at the National Theatre in Tartus and in other venues in Tartus and Damascus later in 2025, with reports in December noting that it had already reached its 38th staging in Syria. However, there is no evidence of a formal, nationwide lifting of any suspension order on their workshops, precisely because no written ban was ever officially acknowledged.
In August 2025, the Malas brothers’ play faced local stoppages in Tartus, Syria, after political criticism, followed by official denials and a quiet return to the stage. The case highlights how informal pressure, “misunderstandings,” and local enforcement can still restrict artistic freedom.
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