Syria is currently in the grips of a civil war, and millions of the country's nationals have fled to find safety elsewhere. Now, famed Syrian-born musician Omar Souleyman has addressed the situation in a newly penned open letter.
The message posted on Facebook notes that Souleyman himself is a refugee himself (although he's not in exile), and he helps to raise funds for fellow Syrian refugees by teaming up with concert promoters to work with charities. This includes his dates coming up in the next few months, when he will be touring in support of this summer's Bahdeni Nami.
The post also functions as a poignant tribute to Souleyman's homeland, which was said to be like "heaven on earth" before the civil war. The above image was included in the post. Read the message below:
Our Heart Aches for Syria continues...
Began in March 2013 at SXSW with a little help from many friends, all future Omar Souleyman shows dedicate to help Syrian people fleeing to a better life elsewhere.
Omar Souleyman is a refugee himself, but not an exilee, alone providing for a family of 30. Together with all willing promoters of his shows he conspires to raise funds to aid the refugees in flight from Syrian situation.
We are working with a number of charities but focusing on those directly providing urgent medical care to those in need during their long, difficult and dangerous passage to a life they dream of.
Syria was heaven on earth to all of us not so long ago and there is no reason it shouldn't be the same way again soon. In this small meantime we all must help each other as much as we can and point the world to history and understanding the true cause of all the suffering that happens now.
Tour dates:
10/01 Los Angeles, CA - The Regent
10/02 New York, NY - Park Avenue Armory
10/03 New York, NY - Park Avenue Armory
10/04 New York, NY - Park Avenue Armory
10/16 Budapest, Hungary - Electronic Beats Festival
11/06 Turin, Italy - C2C
11/07 Dublin, Ireland - Metropolis Festival
11/08 Madrid, Spain - Sala La Riviera
11/28 Istanbul, Turkey - Babylon Bomonti
12/11 Dubai, United Arab Emirates - TBA
The message posted on Facebook notes that Souleyman himself is a refugee himself (although he's not in exile), and he helps to raise funds for fellow Syrian refugees by teaming up with concert promoters to work with charities. This includes his dates coming up in the next few months, when he will be touring in support of this summer's Bahdeni Nami.
The post also functions as a poignant tribute to Souleyman's homeland, which was said to be like "heaven on earth" before the civil war. The above image was included in the post. Read the message below:
Our Heart Aches for Syria continues...
Began in March 2013 at SXSW with a little help from many friends, all future Omar Souleyman shows dedicate to help Syrian people fleeing to a better life elsewhere.
Omar Souleyman is a refugee himself, but not an exilee, alone providing for a family of 30. Together with all willing promoters of his shows he conspires to raise funds to aid the refugees in flight from Syrian situation.
We are working with a number of charities but focusing on those directly providing urgent medical care to those in need during their long, difficult and dangerous passage to a life they dream of.
Syria was heaven on earth to all of us not so long ago and there is no reason it shouldn't be the same way again soon. In this small meantime we all must help each other as much as we can and point the world to history and understanding the true cause of all the suffering that happens now.
Tour dates:
10/01 Los Angeles, CA - The Regent
10/02 New York, NY - Park Avenue Armory
10/03 New York, NY - Park Avenue Armory
10/04 New York, NY - Park Avenue Armory
10/16 Budapest, Hungary - Electronic Beats Festival
11/06 Turin, Italy - C2C
11/07 Dublin, Ireland - Metropolis Festival
11/08 Madrid, Spain - Sala La Riviera
11/28 Istanbul, Turkey - Babylon Bomonti
12/11 Dubai, United Arab Emirates - TBA