Fadwa Souleimane (also transcribed as Fadwa Souleiman or Fadwa Suleiman; 17 May 1970 – 17 August 2017) was a Syrian actress of who led many Syrian protests against Bashar al-Assad's government in Homs.Basma Atassi (23 November 2011) "Q&A: Syria's daring actress", Al Jazeera. She became one of the most recognized faces of the Syrian Revolution.Khaled Yacoub Oweis (5 January 2012) "Syrian actress treads new stage in Syrian protests", Reuters.Amrutha Gayathri (March 31, 2012) "Fadwa Suleiman: Actress And Alawite Icon Of Syrian Revolt Warns Of Sectarian Violence", International Business Times.Deborah Pasmantier (30 March 2012) "Actress icon of Syrian revolt warns of sectarian warfare", Agence France-Presse.Mohamed Abi Samra (16 February 2012) "Fadwa Suleiman: une pasionaria syrienne", Courrier International.Hala Kodmani (24 décembre 2011) "Fadwa Suleiman, pasionaria de Homs" , Libération."Fadwa Suleiman et ses espoirs pour la Syrie", Euronews, 27 March 2012.
Acting career
Born in Aleppo, Suleiman moved to the capital Damascus to pursue an acting career where she performed in numerous plays, Maria's Voice and Media, and in at least a dozen TV shows, including in The Diary of Abou Antar and Little Ladies. She also played an art teacher at an orphanage in "Small Hearts," a television series that helped raise awareness about human organ trafficking and was broadcast by several Arab channels. She also acted in an Arabic adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" at the Qabbani theater in Damascus.
Role in Syrian uprising At the start of the Syrian uprising in 2011, Suleiman was one of the few outspoken actresses to protest against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Facing possible death or imprisonment, Suleiman wanted to participate in the demonstration to dispel what she said was public perception that all in the Alawite community, which comprised around 10 percent of the Syrian population, supported the government of fellow Alawite Bashar al-Assad. She also wanted to dismiss the government's narrative that those who participated in protests were armed terrorists. She appeared at rallies demanding Assad's removal, sharing the podium with soccer star Abdul Baset al-Sarout, one of a number of other prominent Syrians who backed the revolt.
Suleiman also delivered impassioned monologues to camera, calling for peaceful protests to continue across the country until Assad was overthrown."Message to Canada by actor Fadwa Suleiman from inside Syria.", YouTube, 2 December 2011. “Sectarian violence in Homs would be worse if it weren’t for Fadwa Suleiman,” says Peter Harling, Syria analyst at the International Crisis Group, the think tank. “She has tried to contain the damage among Alawites who have been hijacked by the regime.”Roula Khalaf (21 March 2012) "Alawites trapped in existential struggle", Financial Times.
In one video message in 2011, Suleiman said security forces were searching Homs neighborhoods for her, and beating people to force them to reveal her hiding place."Fadwa Sulayman syrian actress announces a hunger strike", YouTube, 14 November 2011. She cut her hair short like a boy, and moved from house to house to evade capture. In 2012, she fled via Lebanon and moved to France, where she resided in Paris.
Death On August 17, 2017, Suleiman died of cancer in exile in Paris, aged 47.
Filmography
Dubbing roles Inazuma Eleven (season 1 only) - Mamoru Endou Hamtaro (season 4 only) - Bijou, Howdy, Kana Iwata Battle B-Daman - Yamato Daiwa Battle B-Daman: Fire Spirits! - Yamato Daiwa The Story of Cinderella - Jeanne, Bingo (1st dub) Tom & Jerry Kids - Jerry Mouse Naruto - Inari Monster Rancher - Genki Sakura Secret of Cerulean Sand - William F. Buxton/Harry Killer, Sabri, Bunch What-a-Mess - What-a-Mess The Marshmallow Times - Clove Ojamajo Doremi - Dela The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper - Kathleen "Kat" Harvey (Venus Centre version) Casper's Scare School - Mantha (Venus Centre version) Anime Himitsu no Hanazono - Mary Lennox (1st dub) Cyborg Kuro-chan - Kuro (2nd voice) (Venus Centre version) Grander Musashi - Mio Hoshiyama Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden - White Bomber/Bomberman Digimon Adventure - Sora Takenouchi, Patamon, Tokomon, Angemon, Vamdemon, Natsuko Takaishi, Gazimon (one of three) Digimon Adventure 02 - Iori Hida, Sora Takenouchi, Patamon, Tokomon, Angemon, Gekomon, Ken Ichijouji (Young), Michael Washington, Jun Motomiya, Kae Izumi, HolyAngemon, Natsuko Takaishi Baby & Me - Tadashi Gotoh, Hiroko "Hiro" Gotoh Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! - Gō Seiba (Venus Center version) Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! Max - Gō Seiba, Hitoshi Matsu Pokémon - Officer Jenny (1st voice), Tommy, Cassidy Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) - Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic X - Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog Astro Boy - Astro Boy Emily of New Moon - Perry Miller (1st voice), Aileen Kent (1st voice), Narration Little Women II: Jo's Boys - Josephine "Jo" Bhaer (Venus Center version) The Great Book of Nature (Venus Centre version) The Pink Panther (Venus Centre version) Space Warrior Baldios Charley and Mimmo (Venus Centre version) Bartok the Magnificent - Piloff Animaniacs - Colin, Katie Ka-Boom Hunter × Hunter - Old Lady Quizzer Dennō Bōkenki Webdiver - Charon Babar - Pom (Venus Centre version) Rainbow Fish - Rainbow Fish (Venus Centre version) Hi no Ame ga Furu - Shizu Detective Conan - Ayako Suzuki, Reiko Saeki, Kaori Nakahara The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor - Sawar Tommy & Oscar - Girl (Venus Centre version) Nobody's Boy: Remi - Rémi Barberin (Venus Centre version) Get Ed - Ed, the Protector Ushiro no Shoumen Daare Mr. Seguin's Goat - White Goat (1st dub)
References
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