On Thursday, January 29, the Syrian actress Huda Sha’arawi was found murdered inside her home in the Bab Sreij neighborhood in the heart of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Syrian Artists Syndicate head Mazen Al-Natour confirmed in official statements that preliminary data from the forensic department indicates that the crime occurred between five and six o’clock in the morning on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
Al-Natour clarified that the late actress was found dead in her home, with no clear signs of external intrusion, which strengthens the initial hypothesis that the perpetrator was someone inside the house.
For its part, the Syrian Ministry of Interior issued an official statement confirming that the incident occurred in the afternoon today in the Bab Sreij neighborhood, and that internal security forces and criminal investigation teams immediately began procedures for inspection and investigation, while sealing off the crime scene and collecting forensic evidence.
The statement noted that investigations are still ongoing to uncover the motives and full circumstances, and to bring those involved to justice.
Initial fingers of accusation—according to media sources and testimonies from neighbors—are pointing towards the domestic helper who worked for the late actress, and who fled immediately after the incident.
According to some preliminary reports, Huda Sha’arawi suffered a severe blow to the head with a household tool (mortar pestle or “hand of the mortar”), while other sources suggested that the crime might have resulted from stabbings.
It is noteworthy that actress Huda Sha’arawi was widely known for portraying the character “Um Zaki” (the midwife) in the first season of the famous series Bab Al-Hara, a role that left a deep mark in the memory of Arab viewers. She also participated in many prominent dramatic works such as “Ayyam Shamiya,” “Ayla 7 Noujoum,” “Qillat Thawq,” “Katrat Ghalba,” and others, and was a founding member of the Syrian Artists Syndicate.
