News from Civsy, based on human monitoring, generative AI tools and retrieval-augumented real time data searchIn May 2025, the Syrian Artists' Syndicate experienced a significant internal conflict that exposed tensions between appointed interim leadership and collective governance in Syria's transitional period. The dispute centered on Mazen Al-Natour, who was appointed head of the Syndicate by the Cabinet in March 2025 following the fall of the Assad regime. Four council members, actresses Amal Hweijeh and Mays Harb, actor Mohamed Al-Rashi, and singer Nour Mhanna serving as vice-director, accused Al-Natour of unilateral decision-making and marginalizing the council's authority. On May 4, 2025, they issued an internal order withdrawing confidence from him, Al-Natour rejected this as illegal, citing his appointment by the Prime Minister. The Syndicate subsequently removed all four members from the council on May 19, citing internal regulations and Law No. 40 of 2019.
Replicating Authoritarian Patterns Rather Than Democratic Reform
The crisis illuminates persistent institutional vulnerabilities in Syria's post-Assad governance structures, particularly the absence of clear accountability mechanisms within professional bodies tasked with representing artists' interests. Under the former regime, the Syndicate functioned as an instrument of state control rather than a genuine representative institution, censoring works and expelling opposition artists who signed statements critical of the government. The transitional government's dissolution of the former council and appointment of temporary leadership offered a chance to establish more democratic governance, instead, the May conflict demonstrates how appointed interim leaders can replicate the same centralized decision-making patterns that characterized the Assad era.
Unilateral Expulsions Mirror Regime-Era Silencing Tactics
Most troublingly, Al-Natour's first major act as head was the expulsion of actress Sulaf Fawakherji on April 16, 2025, before the May confrontation, using Article 58 of Law No. 40 on grounds of "insisting on denying the Assad regime's crimes." While accountability for those who supported the regime matters, the unilateral wielding of expulsion powers by an appointed leader, without transparent council deliberation, echoes the very mechanisms of silencing that Syrian artists endured for decades. The removal of four dissenting council members who questioned this approach suggests that the Syndicate is replicating hierarchical power structures rather than building participatory governance.
Broader Pattern of Cultural Restrictions in Transitional Syria
This governance failure occurs within a broader pattern of concerning developments in Syria's cultural landscape. Recent reports document surveillance of stand-up comedy performances, suspension of theatrical productions by the Malas Brothers following their criticism of government policies, and the closure of Damascus's historic Al-Kindi cinema by religious authorities, all raising questions about whether the transitional government has genuinely committed to artistic freedom or merely replaced one form of state control with another.
Institutional Reform as Essential for Genuine Artistic Freedom
For organizations monitoring artistic freedom and censorship, the Syrian Artists' Syndicate crisis exemplifies how transitions from authoritarianism require more than regime change, they demand deliberate institutional redesign that distributes power, ensures transparency, and protects dissent. Without reforming the legal and governance frameworks governing professional bodies, Syria risks embedding the same centralization and unaccountability that characterized Assad-era cultural institutions, thereby undermining genuine artistic freedom in the post-regime period.
Sources used for the article:
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Roya News English, “Revocation of Nour Mhanna’s Membership and Three Other Artists from the Syrian Artists Syndicate,” 25 May 2025.[en.roya]
Enab Baladi English, “Syrian Artists Syndicate removes Sulaf Fawakherji from its lists,” 16 April 2025.[english.enabbaladi]
Gulf News, “Syrian actress Sulaf Fawakherji expelled from artists’ syndicate over political stance,” 17 April 2025.[gulfnews]
Freemuse, The State of Artistic Freedom 2025 (report).[freemuse]
Harmoon Center / CIHRS, “Views, The Struggles of Musicians in Syria, Politics, Control, and Resilience,” 25 February 2025.[cihrs-rowaq]
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Syrian Observer, “Syrian Authorities Halt Play Critical of Transitional Government,” 10 August 2025.[syrianobserver]
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