Suheir Atassi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Suheir al-Atassi
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سهير الأتاسي
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Atassi in 2013
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| Vice President of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces | |
| In office 12 November 2012 – 4 January 2015 Serving with Riad Seif
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| 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) was born in 1971. She is a Syrian activist who believes in a government separate from religion, which is called being secular. She has been an important voice in the Syrian opposition, a group that works against the current government in Syria. From November 2012 to December 2013, she was a co-vice-president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. People sometimes call her the "Lady of the Revolution." She is well-respected by many thinkers and non-religious groups within the Syrian opposition.
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Early Life and Education
Suheir Atassi was born in Damascus, Syria, in 1971. She comes from the important Atassi family in Homs, which has a long history in politics. Her father was Jamal al-Atassi, a well-known supporter of pan-Arabism in Syria. This idea promotes the unity of Arab people.
Suheir studied French literature and education at the University of Damascus. She became active in a time known as the Damascus Spring. This was a period around 2000 when people hoped for more freedom and democracy in Syria.
Activism and the Jamal Atassi Forum
During the Damascus Spring, Suheir helped create and run the Jamal Atassi Forum. This group was named after her father. It was a place for people to discuss important ideas about politics and society. The forum was later banned by the government.
In 2009, Suheir brought the forum back online. She used it to promote democracy and human rights in Syria. She believed that everyone should have basic rights and a say in how their country is run.
Role in the Syrian Opposition
Because of her activism, Suheir al-Atassi was arrested on March 16, 2011. After she was released, she had to hide for a while. Later, she left Syria and went to Jordan, then to France.
In November 2012, she became a co-vice-president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. This group was formed by different opposition groups working together.
Resignation from Leadership
In December 2013, Suheir Atassi stepped down from her role as Vice-President of the National Coalition. This happened after an aid group, the Assistance Coordination Unit, stopped working. They claimed there were problems with how aid money was being managed. Suheir stated she would continue to lead the Assistance Coordination Unit, which was based in Turkey.
Later, on April 25, 2018, Atassi resigned from the National Coalition entirely. She explained that she disagreed with the group's connections to Russia.
