Khaberni - The Libyan capital Tripoli witnessed rapid developments that ended with the cancellation of the first concert of the young Syrian singer Al-Shami, just hours before its scheduled start on Saturday, amidst widespread controversy and division in the Libyan street and repercussions that reached inside official institutions.
The crisis began after the artist Al-Shami arrived at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli last Thursday on a private plane, which sparked a wave of questions and criticisms across social media platforms about the nature of the arrangements and support provided to him.
Al-Shami was scheduled to perform at the opening of the "Qiraji Investment Mall," which was met with clear division among a segment of the youth who welcomed the concert and the artist's presence, while another saw that the type of musical content he presents does not align with the conservative nature of the Libyan society.
The controversy escalated further after it was revealed that the shopping mall administratively belongs to the "World Islamic Call Society," which moved the issue from social space to an institutional official level.
With the escalating wave of rejection, the society issued a strongly-worded statement in which it disavowed the concert, confirming that the organizing party "had overstepped its authority" after handing over the facilities to a private investment company.
The society emphasized in its statement that "relying on singers from abroad does not relate in any way to its missionary and religious message," considering that this move represents an offense to its history and status and does not align with the identity and values of society.
The repercussions of the crisis did not stop at the limits of the statements, as the director of the Legal Affairs Office and the recorder of the society's board of directors, Saleh Ali Mohammed Aburgheia, resigned from his position, protesting the decision to bring in the artist, considering what happened as an overstep of the institution's message.
In the face of escalating public pressure, the sharp stance from the society, alongside administrative confusion, the management of the commercial mall ultimately announced the complete cancellation of the event, thus ending a concert crisis that had not begun but had left behind a broad controversy and political and societal interactions in Libya.
