Ms. Sanaa Hweijeh:

A former detainee, Ms. Hweijeh studied at the University of Damascus but did not complete her education due to her arrest for her affiliation with the Communist Action Party. She worked in Syrian cinema and television as a makeup artist.

Ms. Sanaa’s Journey Before 2011:

Ms. Sanaa Hweijeh notes that she was never part of the Ba’ath Party system; instead, her early involvement was with the Democratic Communist Youth Union. During her university years, Syria was in turmoil, especially during the “Muslim Brotherhood events” of the 1980s and the regime’s response, which included identity-based arrests and the destruction of Hama. These events were pivotal in her understanding of the regime’s nature and made her more aware of the oppression and tyranny surrounding them. This realization led her to join the opposition group, the Communist Action Party, resulting in her arrest from 1987 to 1991.

Ms. Hweijeh and the Syrian Revolution of 2011:

Commenting on the events of the 2011 revolution, Ms. Sanaa states that “at the beginning of the revolution, it was essential to get involved, from participating in demonstrations to engaging in political formations to exercise our right to defend the revolution. Our goal was to eliminate all forms of oppression and injustice, to build a society of equal citizenship free from the monopolization of power and discrimination, especially against women, and to uphold the values of freedom.“

Ms. Sanaa Hweijeh and Her Joining of the Syrian Democratic Alliance:

Ms. Hweijeh explains that her decision to join the Syrian Democratic Alliance was driven by several reasons,

particularly after regional and international interventions led the revolution astray from its true path. She and others continued working to restore the revolution’s true face, and the Syrian Democratic Alliance emerged as a guiding force for that vision. She decided to join as an independent member, free from any ideologies or preconceived notions, focusing on agreements based on democratic principles. She was particularly drawn to the Alliance’s stance on women’s rights and its commitment to empowering women and advocating for their right to participate in political decision-making.

Ms. Sanaa Hweijeh’s Work within the Alliance:

Within the Syrian Democratic Alliance, Ms. Hweijeh works collaboratively to achieve the Alliance’s goals and to shape a democratic national project that can serve as a foundation for fulfilling the Syrian people’s aspirations for freedom, equality, and justice. The significance of the Alliance lies in its existence as a political bloc with diverse and influential competencies on the political scene.

Ms. Hweijeh on the Syrian Democratic Alliance:

Ms. Hweijeh believes that the Alliance represents the current hope and emphasizes the importance of working to uphold its principles and engaging with international and regional powers to influence decision-makers. Her ambition for the Alliance is to work together to bridge the fragmentation and division within Syrian society, which has become a battleground for various factions. The formation of the Syrian Democratic Alliance aims to attract all components, address the weaknesses in Syrian identity, and build a state of equal citizenship for all Syrians.