The Artists Syndicate in Syria mourned the artist Huda Shaarawi, who passed away on Thursday inside her home in the “Bab Sreijeh” neighborhood of Damascus at the age of 87, in a shocking incident whose circumstances are still under investigation.
The Syrian artist was found murdered inside her home, amid suspicions of a robbery-motivated homicide. Ongoing investigations indicate that suspicion revolves around a housekeeper who disappeared after the killing. No final official statement has been issued to confirm the charge or clarify the details of the crime.
Huda Shaarawi is considered one of the prominent artistic figures in Syria and one of the early founders of the Syrian Artists Syndicate. She began her artistic career early through Damascus Radio, where her distinctive voice made a notable presence in a number of radio works, most notably the program “The Rule of Justice”.
The Character of the Midwife Umm Zaki
Her work varied between radio, theater, cinema, and television, and she played an important role in the development of Syrian drama. She achieved widespread fame through her participation in a large number of television series, most notably the series “Bab Al-Hara” with the character “The Midwife Umm Zaki”, alongside dozens of dramatic and cinematic works.
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A neighbor of the artist stated that the crime appears to have been carried out by the housekeeper, who vanished from sight following the incident, indicating that the victim was assaulted with a mortar pestle.
The neighbor added that the grandchildren of the late artist used to visit her daily in the evening hours, which suggests, according to his statement, that the crime occurred after they left the house.
Huda Shaarawi
Huda Shaarawi was a pioneering Egyptian feminist and nationalist who co-founded the Egyptian Feminist Union in 1923. She is most famously remembered for publicly removing her veil in 1923, a symbolic act that marked a significant moment in the struggle for women’s rights in the Arab world. Her activism focused on women’s education, legal reform, and national independence from British colonial rule.
Damascus
Damascus is the capital of Syria and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with evidence of settlement dating back to the third millennium BCE. It served as a major cultural and commercial center, notably as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate in the 7th and 8th centuries, and is home to significant historical sites like the Umayyad Mosque.
Bab Sreijeh
Bab Sreijeh is one of the seven historic gates of the Old City of Damascus, Syria. Its origins date back to the Roman era, and it has been rebuilt and renovated numerous times throughout history, notably during the Ayyubid period in the 13th century. The gate serves as an important entry point and a testament to the city’s ancient urban planning.
Syria
Syria is a country in the Middle East with a rich history as a cradle of ancient civilizations, including the influential city-states of Ebla and Ugarit and the later Roman ruins at Palmyra. Its cultural landscape has been deeply shaped by successive empires and is home to numerous historic sites, though many have suffered significant damage during the ongoing Syrian Civil War.
Artists Syndicate in Syria
The Artists Syndicate in Syria is a state-affiliated professional union established in the 1970s to organize and represent visual artists across the country. It has historically served as a central institution for state-sponsored art, providing studios, exhibition spaces, and financial support to its members, while also operating under the oversight of the Syrian Ministry of Culture.
Damascus Radio
Damascus Radio is the state-owned radio broadcasting service of Syria, established in 1946 shortly after the country gained independence from France. It has served as a primary mouthpiece for the Syrian government, playing a significant role in national communication and propaganda throughout the country’s modern political history.
The Rule of Justice
“The Rule of Justice” is not a widely recognized specific place or cultural site. It is a phrase most commonly associated with a philosophical or legal principle, often referring to the ideal that laws should be applied fairly and equally to all.
Umm Zaki
Umm Zaki is a traditional Jordanian house located in the city of Salt, notable for its well-preserved Ottoman-era architecture from the late 19th century. It serves as a cultural museum that showcases local history, traditional crafts, and the domestic life of a prominent merchant family from that period.
Bab Al-Hara
Bab Al-Hara is a popular Syrian television drama series set in a Damascus neighborhood during the French Mandate period in the early 20th century. The show, which first aired in 2006, dramatizes the social life, traditions, and resistance of the local community against the occupying forces. While not a physical cultural site, it has become a significant cultural phenomenon across the Arab world for its portrayal of heritage and communal values.
