Suheir Atassi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Suheir al-Atassi
سهير الأتاسي
Atassi in 2013
Vice President of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces
In office 12 November 2012 – 4 January 2015 Serving with Riad Seif
President	Moaz al-Khatib
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Noura al-Ameer
Personal details
Born	1971 (age 53–54) Damascus, Syria
Relations	Jamal al-Atassi (father)
Alma mater	Damascus University
Occupation	Vice-president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Lawyer
Known for	Democracy activist Women's activist Secular activist

Suheir al-Atassi (Arabic: سهير الأتاسي, romanized: Suhair al-ʾAtāsī; born 1971) is a Syrian activist who supports a government that separates religion from state affairs. She was an important leader in the Syrian opposition, a group of people who wanted political changes in Syria. From November 2012 to December 2013, she was a co-vice-president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. Many people called her the "Lady of the Revolution" because she was highly respected for her ideas and leadership among those who wanted a more modern and open Syria.

Early Life and Activism

Suheir al-Atassi was born in Damascus, Syria, in 1971. She comes from a well-known political family from Homs. Her father, Jamal al-Atassi, was a famous Syrian leader who believed in uniting Arab countries.

Education and Early Work

Suheir studied French literature and education at the University of Damascus. She became active during a time known as the Damascus Spring. This was a period when people hoped for more freedom in Syria. She helped create and manage the Jamal al-Atassi Forum, which was named after her father.

Promoting Democracy Online

In 2009, Suheir brought the forum back to life online. She used it to encourage democracy and human rights in Syria. Because of her activities, she was arrested on March 16, 2011. After she was released, she had to hide. Later, she left Syria and went to Jordan, then to France.

Role in the Syrian Opposition

Suheir al-Atassi became a key figure in the Syrian opposition. This group worked from outside Syria to bring about change.

Leadership in the National Coalition

In November 2012, she became a vice-president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. This group aimed to represent the Syrian people who opposed the government.

Resignation and Continued Work

In December 2013, Suheir resigned from her role as Vice-President of the National Coalition. This happened after an aid group, the Assistance Coordination Unit, stopped working due to concerns about how aid money was being managed. She decided to keep her position as the head of the Assistance Coordination Unit, which was based in Turkey. Later, on April 25, 2018, Suheir al-Atassi resigned from the National Coalition completely. She explained that her decision was due to the group's connections with Russia.