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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Paris - Asharq Al-Awsat

'Icon of Syrian Revolution' Laid to Rest in Paris

Syrian actor Jala Al-Tawil, front, helps carry the coffin of Syrian actress and democracy activist exiled by the regime, May Skaf, along with her son Joud Al-Zobi, right, in Dourdan, a southwestern Paris suburb, on Friday. — AFP

Prominent Syrian actress May Skaf was temporarily buried Friday in Dourdan, France.

Skaf, 49, was an outspoken critic of Assad’s regime after the uprising began in 2011 and often dubbed as the “icon of the revolution.” She was among the few artists who supported the Syrian revolution since its outset.

The activist was found dead July 23 at her home in Paris, where she had been living with her son, Joud. Medical reports indicate she died following a stroke in one of her brain’s arteries. She also suffered from a ruptured aneurysm.

A number of friends, relatives, and Syrian activists, including Syrian actor Fares El- Helou attended the funeral.

Joud said his mother's grave in France is a temporary resting place, "until we all return to Syria after its liberation from the Assad regime."

“May became a star because she refused any glory, she refused to earn money or work with people who exploited her,” her son added.

He added that his mother was sad about the situation in Syria and her psychological condition worsened during the last four months, which affected her health and nerves. In her last days, May lived in tension, anxiety, sadness and frustration, added Joud, pointing out that he did not expect her to pass away so unexpectedly.

Syrian writer and novelist Dima Wannous, described May’s death as “a loss for all of Syria.”

She told Arab.net that the late actress had been very frustrated over the last four months because of recent events in Syria, Iranian-Russian occupation of her country, and the increased number of victims who die every day by the Assad militias, Hezbollah, Russia and Iran.

“I will never lose hope, I will never lose hope. It’s the majestic Syria, not Assad’s Syria,” she wrote in her last Facebook post.

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