Damascus, Dec. 11 (SANA) On the first anniversary of Syria’s liberation, cultural and national circles remember prominent figures who played a significant role in the Syrian revolution, foremost among them late artist Fadwa Suleiman, whose voice and stances exemplified moral commitment and the defense of human dignity.
In an exclusive interview with SANA, musician Mohammad Azzawi, her husband and lifelong companion, recalled moments from her life in which art and patriotism were intertwined.
Beginnings… A Personality Driven by Principles
Azzawi said that his first meeting with Fadwa, which was in 1992, revealed a leadership personality that adhered to the values of justice and rejected injustice since her childhood, noting that this early awareness formed the basis from which her subsequent positions were launched.
With the outbreak of the revolution… Words turn into action
With the start of the popular uprising in March 2011, Fadwa took her place at the forefront of the peaceful demonstrations, using free speech as a means to express the Syrian people’s aspirations for justice and a dignified life.
Azzawi affirms that her presence in the squares was a genuine expression of her unwavering conviction in the necessity of change.
A Painful departure and an unfulfilled promis
Azzawi paused at the moment when she left Homs in 2012 to escape persecution by the deposed regime, recalling her farewell to their son, “Al-Ward,” when she dressed him in the scarf she had worn in the demonstrations, in a symbolic reference to the continuation of the dream of freedom.
Music… A Bridge Across Distance
Despite the distance imposed by exile, communication remained through music.
The couple would play and talk via online calls, while their son joined them with traditional songs, in moments that Azzawi described as carrying an entire homeland in Fadwa’s voice.
A sudden passing… A journey cut short
Azzawi recounts his 2017 trip to Lebanon to finalize travel arrangements to see her, before receiving news of her death while he was in the embassy.
He described that moment as one of the most devastating in his life, as the trip lost all meaning upon hearing the news.
A Lasting artistic legacy
Azzawi affirmed that Fadwa’s presence remains alive in his musical works, noting that he composed a piece for her entitled “Alone,” which was completed during her final days and later performed in France by the Expatriate Orchestra.
He concluded by saying that her dream of justice and coexistence will continue to guide his artistic endeavors.
About the late artist:
Fadwa Suleiman (1970–2017) was a Syrian actress who emerged as one of the most prominent symbols of the peaceful revolution.
She participated in Homs demonstrations and presented a national model of Syrian unity in the face of the regime’s attempts to sow division.
She left the country under security persecution and continued her activism from France through art and free speech.
