Dear OISTAT Community,
We regret to inform you that on October 11, 2023, at a meeting of the Executive Committee (EC), Hazem Shebl officially announced his resignation from the planning team of WSD2025 and from the position of Vice-President of OISTAT in the OISTAT Executive Committee.
The preparation of WSD2025 will move forward according to the commitment undertaken by the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) after the approval from OISTAT.
We would like to clarify to all OISTAT members that it was SPAA's proposal to host WSD2025 that was approved by the EC in February/March 2022, giving SPAA the right and responsibility to continue leading the project.
The Core Team for WSD2025 now consists of the Board of Trustees of SPAA , Peter Barlow FRSA , Jacqui George and David Filshie. The team will continue without Hazem Shebl's participation.
Hazem's initiative in bringing WSD to the Arab region is highly appreciated and will be noted in the OISTAT archives. OISTAT respects, values, and encourages its members’ contributions and efforts towards the development of the organization in all regions and cultures in an inclusive way. The SPAA Team will carry out the project engaging with artists and cultural leaders of the Arab region.
We are disappointed to learn that after his resignation at the EC Meeting, Hazem Shebl sent messages to members of the OISTAT community causing confusion, disruption, and without consideration of the principles under which OISTAT operates.
At his first expression of resignation, Hazem was advised by the EC not to make a precipitated decision. Hazem restated his wish to resign and in respect to his reaffirmed decision, the President accepted the resignation. The EC stands with the President on this matter.
Download document in PDF
