Asala Nasri: My return to Damascus is linked to personal and emotional considerations

Syrian artist Asala Nasri has expressed her readiness to visit the capital Damascus at any time, stressing that her return is still linked to "personal and emotional considerations" that she is keen to achieve before making a final decision.

In statements to Al-Arabiya TV on the sidelines of a concert she held in Paris, Asala said that the longing for Damascus is "not absent", noting that her relationship with the city goes beyond the geographical dimension to touch on "deep human aspects" linked to the memories of her late father, which makes the return "an influential personal matter that requires special psychological preparation".

Postponed return despite media momentum

Despite repeated statements about her imminent return, there was no official return of Asala to Damascus until April 2026, after an absence of nearly 15 years.

She was scheduled to perform a concert in the capital on March 18, 2026, on the occasion of "Revolution Day", according to the head of the Syrian Artists Syndicate, Mazen al-Natour, but the concert was postponed due to security developments and regional escalation.

Al-Natour later confirmed that the decision to postpone came "as a result of the current circumstances," and that setting a new date will remain linked to developments in the coming period.

In March 2026, the Syrian Artists Syndicate announced that it was coordinating Asala's return to Syrian theaters, describing her as an "artistic icon" that Syrian audiences are looking forward to, in a move that would have been her first appearance in Damascus in many years.

Asala Alabama's recent statements indicate that her upcoming visit carries a special emotional dimension, as it links her to the memory of her father, the late musician Mustafa Nasri, which makes the decision to return for her "more than just an artistic step", but rather a personal station that requires appropriate psychological conditions.