Fadl Shaker Beirut – Riyad Shoman “My Palestinian citizenship is an honour. I like Mahmoud Abbas and respect his positions. He is a moderate president”. This is what singer Fadl Shaker said to Lebanese newspaper As-Safir (The Ambassador) on having been granted Palestinian nationality by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas three days earlier. Shaker said that “some media has recently declared I am Palestinian, as if it is a matter of shame. I grew up in the refugee camps and my wife is Palestinian.” He added: “I hope I will visit this dear holy land one day”. He said: “The Palestinian Ambassador to Jordan called me saying that Mr. President wanted to talk me. He then greeted me and said ‘I am honored to grant you Palestinian nationality’.” In answer to whether he would sing again for the Palestinian cause, Shaker replied “I will retire from singing”. He added: “I will choose the right time to sing only for Palestine and Homs and all the oppressed in the world. I will sing for Syria and the revolutionaries and will support them with money, medical care, food and weapons.” Regarding if there was a possibility to send weapons to Syria and how to deliver it to the inside of the country, he said: “Nothing is difficult. There must be some way. There are millions of ways to do this.” Shaker also clarified that he did know much about politics, and that the Syrian cause was purely a humanitarian issue. He said: “I object to the oppression, murders and rape in Syria. Even the burning of mosques and Qur’ans.. even Jews did not do that.” When Shaker was asked about the role of armed gangs, he answered: “That is not true...there are no armed gangs. It is the people rising up.” As for why he chose Salafism to express his opinion, he said: “Salafism is not a crime. There is a misconception in some people’s minds about Salafism. Salafists are moderate, just and God fearing”. He added: “I wish the media would approach them and practically get to know them.” Shaker also criticised Lebanese singers who sang for the Syrian regime, saying: “They are many, such as Assi and Ragheb Alama. How could sensible artist sing for a criminal regime? Where is the message of their art then? I hope they would have conscience and dignity. I do not like to have such people as friends. Moreover, in this field no one likes his colleagues. All of them are liars and pretenders. Art in the past was of value, but today it is a big lie through which they fool people and their feelings. It is now equivalent to trade, cars and palaces.” Asked about his fans, Shaker said: “Those who like me, do they like me for just my work? Would they stop liking me if I stood up against injustice? They should stand by me and support me. As for the audience that supports the Syrian regime, I do not want such people to like me.”