Syrian singer Asala Nasri was threatened by Qaeda members in Yemen before her recent concert. She went ahead with the concert and it was a success.
President of the Aden Festival, Marwan Al Khaled, presented Asala with a villa in Aden for her courageous stance against terrorism.
Khaled said that 15-percent of the festival’s profit would go to those in need in the Gaza strip and another 15-percent to cancer patients in Aden.
The investors of Fardous City in Aden, considered to be the largest real-estate project in the Arab Peninsula, will give away the first villa to the Syrian singer. Aden has been a city of the performing arts since the 1950’s.
According to the London daily Elaph, Al Khaled denied rumors that there was a chance of canceling the Festival because of the threats. The dilemmas surrounding the festival were political and not religious, he added.
Local religious leaders sent SMS messages via cellular phones and distributed handouts in stores and café’s asking people to boycott Asala’s concert.
Close sources to Asala said she was nervous when she stepped into Aden’s airport with her mother and children. She made clear that she will reach her fans anywhere and that threats like these won’t stop her because her singing style is respectful and appreciated.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
