ALBAWABA - Huda Shaarawi murdered by maid in Damascus home.
The renowned Syrian actress Huda Shaarawi, also known as Umm Zaki, topped Google's global search engine, as well as the microblogging platform X and Facebook, in the late hours of Friday, January 30, 2026, following her murder at the hands of her maid in her home in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
Press reports published on Friday, January 30, 2026, revealed details of the murder of Huda Shaarawi by her maid on Thursday morning, January 29, 2026, in her home. Huda Shaarawi, the late actress, was 87 years old, having been born in 1938. Her death in the Syrian capital has caused widespread grief.
Press reports reveal that her maid killed the artist Huda Shaarawi at 5:00 AM on Thursday, January 29, 2026. The maid reportedly used a mortar and pestle to kill her. She left the house at 6:10 AM that same day, as recorded by security cameras. Security cameras caught the maid, who had been working for Shaarawi for three months, leaving the house.
The Ministry of Interior announced via its official Facebook page that the suspect in the murder of Huda Shaarawi was arrested at her home in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday. The investigation is currently ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the artist, also known as Umm Zaki, at her home in Damascus on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
The accused left a confession letter before fleeing, admitting to the murder, claiming the actress "was trying to poison her." However, investigators stated that the claim was unsupported by evidence, indicating that the investigation is ongoing to determine the true motives and circumstances of the incident.
It is worth noting that the late actress was found with a fractured skull inside her home after her maid struck her with a metal object while she slept. The maid then left a letter confessing to the crime before disappearing.
The deceased's grandchildren, who visit her daily in the evenings, reported that the crime occurred after they had left. Surveillance cameras captured the maid fleeing into a street, where her movements were tracked, leading to her arrest.
Relatives of the deceased confirmed that the maid had worked for them for a short period and denied any financial disputes between them.
Huda Shaarawi, who began her artistic career by chance, is considered one of the pillars of Syrian drama. Her career spanned more than five decades, and her legacy lives on in the memory of Arab audiences. She was renowned for her roles portraying the quintessential Damascene woman, and her portrayal of "Umm Zaki," the midwife and wise woman in "Bab Al-Hara," is considered the most memorable, as she became an iconic character in the series.
Her career extended beyond television to include theater, film, and radio, where she delivered timeless performances in works such as "Ayyam Shamia," "Awdat Ghawar," and "Al-Shams Fi Yawm Ghaim." She was also a founding member of the Syrian Artists Syndicate, reflecting her pioneering role in building and developing the arts in her country.
However, this illustrious career ended tragically. Initial reports indicate that she was found murdered in her home in the historic Bab Sreijeh neighborhood of Damascus. Preliminary investigations have led to the arrest of her maid as the prime suspect after she attempted to flee. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover all the circumstances and motives behind this heinous crime.
