The song “60 Minutes of Life” by Syrian artist Asala Nasri has returned to the YouTube platform after a period of forced absence, which sparked widespread controversy among her fans and accusations exchanged between Asala and her ex-husband, director and producer Tarek Al-Arian, who claimed to hold the legal rights to the song.
Details of the Return of ’60 Minutes of Life’
This development raised questions about the future of the legal dispute between the two parties. Anas Nasri, Asala’s brother and manager, announced the song’s return through his social media accounts, stating, “Congratulations on the return of ’60 Minutes of Life’ after weeks of forced absence, and the triumph of art over obstruction and challenges. This work is part of the history my sister Asala and I created together, and her voice is one that cannot be questioned.”
In previous statements, Anas confirmed that the crisis did not affect Asala’s popularity or artistic stature, noting that her loyal audience remains attached to her works regardless of the circumstances. He also expressed hope for an amicable resolution to the crisis without escalating to legal actions, explaining that there are shared interests between both parties that could contribute to ending the dispute.
Removal of Asala’s Songs
The crisis began when the song “60 Minutes of Life,” along with several other songs by Asala, was removed from her official YouTube channel, triggering a wave of questions and criticisms on social media, particularly regarding intellectual property rights.
For his part, Tarek Al-Arian issued an official statement clarifying that he requested the removal of “60 Minutes of Life” from YouTube, citing his ownership of the production, publishing, and distribution rights. He confirmed that YouTube’s management complied with his request after reviewing the legal documents he provided, resulting in the automatic removal of the song.
Al-Arian explained that he had attempted to resolve the issue amicably with Asala for five years but to no avail, which led him to pursue legal means to secure his material and moral rights. He also indicated that the removal of “60 Minutes of Life” was only the first step, and he intends to take legal action to remove other songs, such as “The Memory Rooms,” “The Country Rose,” “Living on the Past,” as well as two albums: “Concerned with Details” and “Stubborn Personality.”
Meanwhile, some of Tarek Al-Arian’s supporters defended his position, pointing to his legal right to protect his artistic productions. Amidst all this, the audience remains in a state of anticipation regarding the future of this crisis, awaiting developments in the case.