Syrian protesters set up celebrity 'list of shame' |

Syrian protesters set up celebrity 'list of shame' |

clip from article: By: Tom Little

For years, Syria’s actors and musicians have been one of its most precious exports, proving a hit with audiences across the Arab world, and making Syria something of a centre for television and music production.

Syria’s soap operas are especially popular, and are beamed into homes across the region.

Public figures who live outside of Syria, such as pop star Asala Nasri, have greater freedom to speak out

Since the anti-government unrest erupted in March, relatively few Syrian celebrities have shown their opposition to the government’s crackdown by appearing in protests and speaking out in interviews.

Those who have dared to speak out, however, have put themselves at risk of arrest and even violent retribution.

In August, the prominent cartoonist Ali Farzat had his fingers broken – reportedly by security forces personnel – after he published cartoons mocking the president.[read more at link]