Noura Aljizawi

Noura Aljizawi (formally Noura Al-Ameer al-Jizawi; ) is a Toronto-based academic, activist, spokesperson, former refugee, and Syrian political opposition leader.

Early life At the age of six, Aljizawi was obliged by the government of Syria to wear military-style uniforms. She noticed at school how many of her classmates' fathers had disappeared, later realizing they were detained and executed political prisoners.

Life in Syria

In Damascus, Aljizawi studied for her master’s degree in comparative literature and at the same time spoke out about the leadership of Syrian President Assad and organized demonstrations. She wrote a blog critical of the President.

In 2011 Aljizawi led antigovernmental protests in Homs.

Her political activities resulted in her being arrested by the Damascus (215th) branch of Military Intelligence Directorate on 28 March 2012. Held in various prisons, she was tortured with electricity and interrogated for 12 hours per day. While under arrest she was denied access to a lawyer and contact with her family. she was released from jail in 2012 and she fled to Turkey.

She resigned from her role later in 2016, after concluding that negotiations were hopeless.

In February 2018, Aljizawi traveled to Geneva to give evidence to the United Nations Human Rights Council about the situation in Syria.

Family life Aljizawi lives with her husband and they have one daughter born in 2015.