The concert that was scheduled for Syrian artist Al-Shami in Libya sparked a wide wave of controversy, ending with its cancellation just hours before the scheduled time, following a campaign of objections on social media.
Al-Shami had arrived on Thursday in the capital, Tripoli, to hold a concert as part of the opening events of a commercial center, promoting the concert through his accounts, before the organizers announced its cancellation.
The cancellation decision came after widespread criticism from activists who believed that the type of songs the artist presents does not align with the nature of the conservative Libyan society or the family atmosphere.
Others questioned the usefulness of allocating financial amounts to bring an artist from outside the country, considering that this money could have been directed to more urgent needs.
In the midst of the controversy, the World Islamic Call Society, the owner of the commercial center, issued a statement confirming that it does not bear responsibility for organizing the concert, clarifying that the management of the complex was entrusted to a private company.
The society emphasized that what happened does not align with its الدعوية message and objectives, announcing its rejection of organizing musical concerts and bringing in artists from outside the country.
It considered that these actions have no relation to its religious message, and constitute an offense to its history and status, and do not align with the identity of Libyan society and the values on which it was founded.