Months into the country’s transition, a key question on the mind of many Syrians is whether the new government will be able and willing to deliver a ‘Syria for all Syrians.’ Though the new authorities have committed to this vision in their constitutional declaration and recent national celebrations, a series of worrying incidents leave questions on the minds of those watching. In March, a cycle of violence known as the “coastal attacks” led to the death of hundreds and implicated numerous parties—from Assad regime loyalists to security forces and foreign fighters. Though the authorities responded promptly by establishing a fact-finding committee to investigate and address the incident, the months to come will be critical in assessing the government’s capacity to speak to the needs and priorities of all members of its diverse population, to quell sectarian tensions and to hold its own to account. In June, a suicide bomber attacked Sunday worshippers at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, killing at least 22, striking terror among locals, and intensifying fears further. Most recently, in July, the violence in Suwayda has reached alarming levels, leading to civilian deaths, high levels of displacement, and an exacerbation of sectarian tensions that has left civilians particularly vulnerable.
On Thursday, July 31 at 10 am EST, the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) hosted “A ‘Syria for all Syrians’: Between Promises and Reality,” an online moderated discussion featuring Ola Suliman, Samy Akil, Kholoud Helmi, and Lina Ghoutouk, moderated by Mai El-Sadany. Panelists reflected on a number of key questions: What steps have the new Syrian authorities taken to bring about a system of governance that is meaningfully inclusive and delivers on the diverse needs and priorities of Syrians? How are Syrians assessing the ability and capacity of the new authorities to understand and address their concerns, to communicate with and inform them as members of the public, and to meet with different groups and communities—from religious minorities to victims’ groups, civil society, and members of the diaspora? What may authorities’ responses to the coastal attacks, the Mar Elias church bombing, and the violence in Suwayda mean for what’s to come?
Watch the discussion:
Speaker Profiles:
Ola Suliman
Ola is a Syrian engineer and dedicated human rights activist who has been committed to justice and freedom since the start of the Syrian revolution. Forced to leave Syria at the end of 2013, she continued her advocacy by joining Mayday Rescue (2014–2019), where she played a key role in supporting the White Helmets as they carried out life-saving missions under extremely challenging conditions. In 2021, Ola joined The Syria Campaign, using her expertise to amplify Syrian voices and advocate for the freedom of detainees, accountability, and human rights. Since December 2024, she has also been volunteering with a civil peace group in Homs—supported by The Syria Campaign—working to rebuild trust and foster peace within Syrian communities.
Samy Akil
Samy Akil is a Nonresident Fellow at TIMEP focusing on politics and security in Syria. He is a political analyst specializing in Middle Eastern affairs with a focus on Syria and a particular interest in political transition, diplomacy, and security. He held advisory roles with the International NGO Safety Organization (INSO) where he provided contextual analysis on conflict dynamics in Northwest Syria; and GIZ, where he supported the UN-led peace process as part of the agency’s Syria Peace Initiative. His writing and analysis has been featured in the Middle East Institute, the Atlantic Council, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), the Lowy Institute, and the Operations and Policy Center (OPC). Samy is also a founding member of the Change for Syria Network (C4S), a grassroots initiative promoting youth participation in Syria’s political, civic, and cultural spheres. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from La Trobe University and a Master’s degree in Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies from the Australian National University.
Kholoud Helmi
Kholoud Helmi is a gender and media expert and co-founder and board member of Enab Baladi, an independent Syrian newspaper established in 2011. She is a firm believer in the vital role women play in development, peacebuilding, and long-term stability. Before fleeing Syria, Kholoud bore witness to the Assad regime’s brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in her hometown of Darayya, including arbitrary arrests and massacres. Her brother was arrested in 2012 for helping displaced people from Homs—a turning point that deepened her commitment to truth and justice. Her courage and reporting have been internationally recognized. She was awarded the Anna Politkovskaya Award in 2015 for her journalism in Syria, and the International Documentary Association’s Courage Under Fire Award in 2017 for her contribution to the documentary Cries from Syria. That same year, Marie Claire named her “the bravest woman in the world.” Kholoud holds a master’s in media and development from SOAS, University of London, and is a Chevening Scholar. In 2017, she joined the Families for Freedom movement, advocating for the rights of Syria’s detainees and the forcibly disappeared. She currently serves as a Special Advisor on Irregular Migration, bringing her expertise in human rights, strategic communication, and cross-border advocacy to some of the region’s most pressing challenges.
Lina Ghoutouk
Lina Ghoutouk is a Nonresident Fellow at TIMEP focusing on transitional justice in Syria. She is a Syrian researcher and human rights specialist with over a decade of experience in the humanitarian and research sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights from Saint Joseph University in Beirut, where her academic research focused on the gendered impact of enforced disappearances. Throughout her career, Lina has consistently advocated for an intersectional, victim-centered approach to addressing human rights violations. Originally from the city of Homs in Syria, Lina has led several research initiatives aimed at promoting a conflict-sensitive approach to the city’s reconstruction and healing its fractured social fabric. Her work emphasizes the importance of inclusive recovery processes that prioritize local voices and foster social cohesion. She aims to advocate for the rights of Syria’s invisible victims—those who are often marginalized or erased from public discourse and transitional justice discussions. Her efforts aim to ensure that justice in Syria is grounded in the dignity of victims, resists sectarian revenge, and upholds principles of non-discrimination, accountability, and non-repetition.
Mai El-Sadany
ModeratorMai El-Sadany is the Executive Director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP). She is a human rights lawyer with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Throughout her career, she has worked to expand creative pathways to accountability, to leverage international and regional mechanisms to advance human rights, and to publish accessible analysis and scholarship on legal, judicial, and constitutional issues. She was previously TIMEP’s Managing Director and Legal and Judicial Director. Prior to that, she worked at the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, among other organizations. She is a Steering Committee member of the World Movement for Democracy, a member of the Working Group on Egypt, and a Board Member of HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement. Mai holds a J.D. and certificate in refugees and humanitarian emergencies from the Georgetown University Law Center, and a B.A. in political science from Stanford University.