Syrian Television Industry Rebuilds with Bold Ramadan Dramas After Assad's Fall
Syria's renowned television drama industry is making a powerful return to Ramadan screens, testing creative boundaries as it seeks to rebuild following years of devastating civil war and the collapse of the authoritarian Assad dynasty. The industry, once considered the gold standard for television production across the Arab world, is navigating a complex new landscape where previously forbidden stories can now be told, yet fresh challenges with authorities and censorship persist.
Ramadan Tradition Meets Post-Conflict Reality
Ramadan in the Arab world represents not only a period of fasting and prayer but also a cherished cultural tradition: the annual premiere of specially produced television drama series that families gather to watch after breaking their daily fast. For decades, Syrian productions have dominated this seasonal programming, earning critical acclaim across the region while Egypt maintained cinematic prominence and Lebanon excelled in musical entertainment.
As Syria emerges from fourteen years of brutal conflict, more than a year after Islamist-led insurgents finally toppled the Assad regime, television creators are cautiously exploring their newfound creative space. "Television became the main platform for freedom of expression and also for employment for artists and intellectuals during the Assad years," explained Christa Salamandra, an anthropology professor at Lehman College and City University of New York who has extensively researched Syrian drama. "It was where they could subtly push boundaries when political expression was strictly curtailed."
Fractured Industry Reunites to Tell Once-Forbidden Stories
The industry experienced severe fragmentation following the 2011 anti-government protests that sparked the civil war. "Creatives went into exile—or they stayed, but it split," Salamandra noted. Now, in the post-Assad era, actors and directors formerly divided along political lines are collaborating once again, producing series about topics that would have been completely taboo under the previous regime.
One prominent example is "Al-Souriyoun al-Aada" ("The Syrian Enemies"), based on a novel banned during Assad's rule for its examination of dark historical moments including the 1982 "Hama massacre." During that brutal suppression of a Muslim Brotherhood rebellion ordered by then-President Hafez Assad, between 10,000 and 40,000 people were killed or disappeared in a monthlong assault that left the city in ruins.
The television adaptation features Yara Sabri, a prominent actor who left Syria for years due to her opposition to Assad, returning to perform alongside actors who remained. Wissam Rida, who plays Sabri's son in the series, expressed the emotional significance of this reunion: "I used to watch them when I was younger and wish that I could work with them. After Assad's fall, they came back with such beautiful energy you can't imagine, and you can't imagine how much we were in need of them."
Navigating New Authorities and Persistent Challenges
Despite increased creative freedom, production has encountered significant obstacles. Director Allaith Hajjo, known for acclaimed series like "Dayaa Dayaa" ("A Lost Village") and "Intizar" ("Waiting"), noted the complex dynamics: "In the days of the regime's existence, we were always trying to put forward material that would go over the heads of the censors. I dealt with actors who were a red line in the eyes of the regime. At the same time, now I am dealing with people who may be rejected by the current authorities."
Hajjo's production has faced social media attacks for including actors perceived as close to the former regime, though he maintains that politics should have no role in casting decisions. He also reported that new authorities lack experience in handling artistic productions, resulting in "some problems" with censors that have delayed the series' Ramadan premiere. "It's their right to need some time to gain experience," Hajjo acknowledged, "but I hope this time won't affect the quality and the level of the output."
Other directors have reported more positive experiences. Rasha Sharbatji, director of the Ramadan series "Matbatkh al Medina" ("The City's Kitchen"), found the new authorities accommodating and noted that interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has demonstrated personal interest in drama production. However, questions remain about whether the government will permit television dramas to address post-Assad problems directly, including outbreaks of sectarian violence involving government forces.
Exiled Stars Return to Rebuild a Wounded Industry
Jihad Abdo represents one of many exiled stars who have returned to participate in Syria's cultural reconstruction. A top actor in the 1990s and early 2000s, he fled Syria in 2011 after criticizing Assad and rebuilt his career in the United States under the name "Jay" to avoid associations with extremism. Despite landing roles in major productions including the 2015 film "Queen of the Desert" alongside Nicole Kidman, Abdo longed for home.
Now back in Damascus appearing in the Ramadan web series "Al-Meqaad al-Akheer" ("The Last Seat") and leading Syria's General Organization for Cinema, Abdo faces the daunting task of rebuilding the film industry with virtually no budget. He reports that "the margin of freedom is bigger" than during Assad's time and that authorities haven't declared any subjects off limits, though uncertainty remains about how this freedom will ultimately be defined.
"We're not sure yet about how this margin of freedom will be shaped," Abdo admitted. "We are trying to make it as big as possible, because we need to address the problems in order to solve them." He believes television has a crucial role in postwar reconciliation by telling human stories and demonstrating that those with different political views can collaborate productively.
"The wound is big, it's bleeding, it is still open," Abdo reflected. "But it's our responsibility, the people in entertainment, the intellectuals, prominent names, to bring everybody together again and to keep talking, no matter how different we are." As Syria's television industry continues its delicate revival, these Ramadan dramas represent not only entertainment but a vital component of national healing and cultural redefinition in a profoundly changed society.
