Shukran Murtaja Sparks Controversy After Hosting Seif Al-Sibai Carice Bashar: "Shukran Made No Mistake"

Social media erupted with widespread criticism following the airing of the second episode of the program "Oh La La" on the Syrian channel LTV, in which actress Shukran Murtaja hosted director Seif Al-Sibai to discuss the political situation in Syria. The director’s statements and the questions raised by Murtaja sparked mixed reactions among the audience. Some viewed the segment as glorifying the regime, while others considered it an opportunity to express diverse perspectives.

Amid this controversy, actress Carice Bashar came out in defense of her colleague, affirming that Murtaja had made no mistake and that she had simply expressed her opinion during a period when freedom of expression is available to everyone. Bashar said in the Syrian dialect: "Don’t worry," emphasizing that Shukran stays away from social media due to the negativity circulating there, and that her actions were not blameworthy or responsible.

Facebook and X Accounts Closed

This comes after Shukran Murtaja announced the closure of her Facebook and X accounts following the episode, in response to the wave of harsh criticism over her discussion with Al-Sibai about politics. Al-Sibai stated: "Changing people in positions does not mean the fall or transformation of the regime… the approach remains the same," stressing that expressing opinions at this stage is a rare opportunity.

Al-Sibai also criticized certain procedures taken by the Syrian Artists’ Syndicate, describing their decisions as arbitrary and non-transparent, referring to actions taken against several artists known for supporting former President Bashar Al-Assad.

It is noteworthy that after the episode aired, Shukran Murtaja’s name topped trending topics in Syria and Lebanon. Audience reactions were divided between those who considered the program an attempt to polish faces associated with the former regime, and others who felt Al-Sibai crossed the line and indirectly criticized the state, leaving Murtaja caught between support and opposition.