9 Syrians in Europe You Should Know About9 Syrians in Europe You Should Know About

These remarkable Syrians in Europe embody resilience, creativity, and activism. Let's celebrate their contributions and recognize the richness that diversity brings to our shared European tapestry.

Yusra Mardini – Olympic Swimmer and Refugee Advocate
Yusra Mardini is a Syrian athlete and refugee advocate, (b. Damascus, 1998). She showed early promise as a swimmer, representing Syria in the 2012 FINA World Championships. Forced to flee in 2015, Yusra and her sister swam across the Aegean Sea to Greece, pulling a sinking inflatable dinghy full of people across the Aegean Sea to Greece. She became part of the Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Yusra became a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and has been a strong advocate for refugees since.

Lina Sergie Attar – Founder of Karam Foundation
Lina Sergie Attar is the co-founder and CEO of the Karam Foundation, a non-profit organization that aids Syrian refugees and provides support to displaced and vulnerable communities affected by the tragedies in Syria, focusing on education, healthcare, and sustainable development. The initiatives of the foundation aim to empower individuals and communities to rebuild their lives. Lina has been an advocate for the rights of Syrian refugees and has spoken at various forums to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

Omar Souleyman – Internationally Acclaimed Musician
Born in 1966 in Ras al-Ayn, a city in northeastern Syria, Omar Souleyman is a Syrian musical icon known for his unique fusion of traditional Arabic and Kurdish musical elements, with a distinct regional flavor. He has emphasized the influence of Assyrian, Kurdish, Turkish & Iraqi influence on his work, which incorporates synthesizers and electronic beats, creating a lively and danceable sound. His breakthrough came with the release of the compilation album “Highway to Hassake: Folk and Pop Sounds of Syria,” which introduced his music to a global audience.

Hassan Akkad – BAFTA-Winning Filmmaker
Hassan Akkad is a BAFTA-winning Syrian filmmaker, activist, and former English teacher who gained international attention for his 2016 documentary work “Exodus: Our Journey to Europe”, which was produced by the BBC and followed Hassan and other refugees as they made their journey to Europe. Hassan studied English literature at Damascus University in Syria and has since been an advocate for human rights and refugees, using his platform to challenge stereotypes and promote a deeper understanding of their experiences. Hassan continues his documentary work, contributing to projects that shed light on issues related to migration, displacement, and social and political justice.

Muzoon Almellehan – Education Activist
Muzoon Almellehan is an education activist (b. Daraa, Syria, 1999) known for her advocacy work, particularly in promoting the importance of education, especially for girls, in crisis-affected areas. Her life took a significant turn when she and her family became refugees, eventually settling in a refugee camp in Jordan. She was often referred to as the “Malala of Syria.” In 2015, she became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, making her the first person with official refugee status to become an ambassador for the organization. Muzoon collaborated with Malala Yousafzai and the Malala Fund, collectively raising awareness and funds for girls’ education in crisis zones. Muzoon was included in TIME magazine’s list of the 30 most influential teens in 2017.

Prof. Shadia Habbal – Astronomer
Professor Shadia Habbal is a Syrian-born astronomer known for her work in solar physics and observational astronomy. She earned her Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Cincinnati. Her research has primarily focused on the solar corona, solar wind, and solar activity. Moreover, she has led and participated in numerous expeditions around the world to observe and study total solar eclipses, using these events as opportunities to gather crucial data on the outer layers of the Sun. Her work involves both ground-based observations using advanced instruments, and collaborations with space-based observatories such as NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory.

Prof. Kefah Mokbel – Surgeon
Professor Kefah Mokbel is the chair of breast cancer surgery and leads the multidisciplinary breast cancer program at the London Breast Institute of the Princess Grace Hospital. Born in 1965 in the Golan Heights, Syria, Professor Mokbel is the founder and president of Breast Cancer Hope, a UK-based charity dedicated to improving life quality for women diagnosed with breast cancer. He has been named in Times magazine’s list of Britain’s Top Doctors. He also has a prolific output of over 350 published papers in medical literature.

Ghada Shouaa – Heptathlete
Ghada Shouaa (b. Mhardeh, Syria, 1972) started participating in sports at a young age, eventually specializing in the heptathlon, a track and field event that consists of seven different disciplines. The pinnacle of Ghada Shouaa’s career came at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA, where she won the gold medal in the heptathlon, becoming the first Syrian woman to win an Olympic gold medal. In the same Olympic Games in 1996, she set a new world record in the heptathlon with a total of 6942 points, further solidifying her status as one of the greatest heptathletes in history. Ghada Shouaa’s success had a significant impact on women’s sports in Syria, becoming a role model for aspiring athletes and empowering Syrian women to compete on the global stage.

Mustafa Suleyman – Entrepreneur
Born to a Syrian father and English mother, Mustafa Suleyman is a British entrepreneur and artificial intelligence (AI) researcher recognized for co-founding DeepMind Technologies, an AI company later acquired by Google. He has since co-founded Inflection AI, focusing on machine learning and generative AI. Suleyman’s early endeavors include starting the Muslim Youth Helpline and working as a policy officer for the Mayor of London. His career at DeepMind involved spearheading applied AI initiatives and integrating AI technology into Google products. Moreover, Suleyman is also known for his contributions to AI policy and product management at Google.