The Syrian Artists' Syndicate awarded, on Thursday, the title of "honorary member" to Fadl Shaker, a Lebanese singer turned Salafist who was involved, alongside Ahmad al-Assir, in deadly clashes against the Lebanese army in 2013. His "honorary" participation was granted in recognition of his "remarkable artistic career," and his "humanitarian commitment to the Syrian people's cause," according to a statement from the syndicate.

Syrian actor Mazen al-Natour, president of the syndicate, posted a photo of this decision on Instagram, thanking "all those who stood by the truth and did not fall into the trap of the temptations" of former Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Active on social networks, Shaker expressed his great joy at the fall of the Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024, by an alliance led by the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The beginning of the revolution in Syria, in 2011, marked the end of Shaker's music career. He then began to believe that singing was forbidden by Islam and moved closer to the Salafist movement led by Sheikh Assir. Anti-Assad activists often posted videos online showing Shaker performing religious chants in honor of the Syrian rebels.

Born Fadl Shmandar, Shaker was sentenced in absentia in December 2020 to a total of 22 years in prison with hard labor and was stripped of his civil rights by the Military Tribunal. The former much-loved crooner in the Arab world was the traveling companion of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, who was arrested and sentenced to death for the Abra clashes. The fighting in this suburb of Saida between Islamists led by Sheikh Assir and the Lebanese army resulted in eighteen military casualties and eleven militia casualties.

The Syrian Artists' Syndicate also welcomed as honorary members the Syrian singer Assala Nasri, known by her stage name Assala, recognized for her outspoken and aggressive positions against Bashar al-Assad's regime, and Syrian-American musician Malek Jandali. After the regime's fall, Jandali told the American press he was in a state of "shock and joy" to see Assad fall after "54 years of brutal dictatorship."