Khadija Nasr Mansour holds a law degree from Damascus University and has been practicing law for twenty-five years. She lives in the city of Tartus, where she moved before 2011 and has remained ever since. Khadija is a member of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement.

Khadija was not detached from engaging in the Syrian revolution, which she had been eagerly anticipating, especially after the outbreak of the Arab Spring revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. She found her profession to be a means of standing against tyranny.  Khadija says, “My involvement in and support for the Syrian revolution came through my defense of prisoners of conscience in Baniyas and other Syrian governorates before the military and criminal courts of Tartus and Homs. I was never afraid to express my opinion, expose the regime’s crimes, and declare my support for the Syrian revolution, whether within the bar association or in my  social surroundings.”

Speaking about her motivation to stand against the regime, Khadija adds: “Any person with even a shred of conscience had to take this stance. How much more so for someone who studied law and witnessed the regime’s crimes, the corruption of its institutions, and the blind allegiance of the unions, which were essentially security branches in disguise.”

“Democratic forces must unite under one voice and take the initiative to turn the transitional phase into a smooth democratic transition through a constitution that fulfills the revolution’s goals of building a state based on citizenship, justice, and equality.”

Khadija was interested in political work before the outbreak of the Syrian revolution but did not engage in it because political life in Syria was non-existent under Assad’s rule. She says, “I actively engaged in political work in 2018 when I secretly joined the Syrian Constitutional Party. My political activities were limited to attending online meetings, but my public involvement was through civil work at the Center for Equal Citizenship.”

On the security challenges facing Syrian women, Khadija says: “Before the Syrian revolution, the security grip was the biggest challenge, as free and organized political work was prohibited. As for women, they faced many challenges on the social level, including customs and traditions, as well as the distortion of their political role. Under the previous regime, women’s roles were superficial, which only reinforced their marginalization and suppression during the Syrian revolution. Political parties did not differ much from the previous regime in this regard.”

Khadija adds, “After the fall of the regime, the situation has improved, and there is more freedom for movement and political work. However, many remain hesitant to participate politically, either due to fear of what is to come or a lack of awareness of the importance of this stage and the necessity of political engagement to create a presence on the ground. This would allow politicians to establish their positions and build popular support to resist any future attempts to suppress political work.”

Regarding her joining the Syrian Women’s Political Movement, Khadija says, “I chose to join the movement after meeting some of its members and having prior knowledge of its significant work and role in assisting Syrian women, empowering them to engage in political work, and enhancing their leadership roles.”

Expressing her view of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement, she states: “The movement serves as a fundamental base for supporting Syrian women and has a visible presence in the political, social, and cultural spheres. The image it has presented deserves respect, support, and advocacy for its national project, which aims to enhance the role of women, provide them with opportunities to participate in politics, encourage their initiative, and attract them both qualitatively and quantitatively. This has led many young women to join the movement, seeking to participate, learn, and benefit from its experience and standing.”

Khadija believes that social and legal obstacles still exist, and she hopes that the work on the new constitution will align with the aspirations of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement by incorporating gender sensitivity. She says, “Based on my modest experience in political work, we face significant obstacles to achieving the revolution’s goals, especially given the numerous negative indicators and circumstances.”

She continues, “The current situation indicates that we are far from achieving the revolution’s goals, particularly with the dominance of one political party in the new government and the exclusion of political parties and civil society from managing the transitional phase thus far. Additionally, the weakness of democratic political bodies in building itself into a pressing force, due to their fragmentation, lack of organization, and limited capabilities after decades of exclusion, remains a major challenge. However, I remain optimistic about the government expected to be formed after March 1, 2025, based on statements from the Syrian administration , as there are positive indicators on the ground.”

Khadija continues, “Democratic forces must unite under one voice and take the initiative to turn the transitional phase into a smooth democratic transition through a constitution that fulfills the revolution’s goals of building a state based on citizenship, justice, and equality, while leveraging international relations that align with the interests of the Syrian people.”

“Women can make a significant difference and ensure a more just and fair future. Be confident that your role in the current and upcoming stages is of utmost importance.”

Khadija shares the harsh experiences she has endured, saying, “I faced all forms of bullying because of my support for the Syrian revolution. I was not spared from social ostracization, nor from being labeled a traitor by the remnants of the former regime, its security branches, and its supporters. I was also banned from traveling abroad, but the most painful experience was losing my son during the Syrian revolution.”

On positive experiences, she says, “Despite my suffering, I never hesitated to serve my country, Syria, and the society I live in, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. I overlooked many offenses and chose forgiveness over hatred. This has been our approach since the start of the revolution. As a result, many who opposed me felt ashamed of their stance. Moreover, this enabled me to attract many women to attend workshops organized by the Syrian Women’s Political Movement to be more  prepared to join and expand its grassroots base. My success in the legal profession also helped me gain a respectable position, which in turn allowed me to break the barrier of fear for many.”

Regarding her dream for the future, Khadija says, “I dream of seeing a pluralistic Syria, where power is transferred smoothly, a state of citizenship, institutions, and law, a secular state that separates religion and the military from politics.”

She addresses Syrian women, saying, “You have a national and human  duty to contribute to building Syria and strengthening your role in society, especially in the political sphere. Do not underestimate your abilities and potential. You can make a huge difference and create a more just and fair future. Be confident that your role in the current and upcoming stages is of great importance.”

She concludes by saying, “I hope that Syrians do not lose hope in achieving the revolution’s goals. The dream of toppling the tyrant once seemed far-fetched, but it became a reality, and the Syria we dream of will soon become a lived reality that we all cherish. Let’s keep working until we live the dream as we love and desire.”