Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani has appointed Syrian media personality Muzna al-Atrash as the ministry’s adviser for peace affairs, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Al-Atrash’s appointment on Monday, November 2, comes amid a series of measures and appointments aimed at restructuring the ministry’s diplomatic and administrative work. The nature of her responsibilities remains unclear.
Who Is Muzna al-Atrash?
Muzna al-Atrash is a Syrian media personality from Suwayda governorate (southern Syria). She comes from a family of artists and has worked in human rights and community affairs alongside her media career.
Al-Atrash has worked for several media outlets. She began as a reporter before moving into television, appearing on Al-Maraa and Orbit channels and several other Syrian and Arab broadcasters, including Syrian state television.
During her career, she presented cultural, social and arts programs. She also directed films, including the short film Misunderstanding.
In community work, al-Atrash has served as chair of the board of the Al-Muzn organization and director of the Druze community’s office in Iraq and Kurdistan. She is a member of the UN-affiliated Syrian Women’s Advisory Board and has also volunteered with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
Al-Atrash is a member of the Syrian Artists Syndicate and the Federation of Arab Journalists.
She holds a qualification from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, a diploma in film studies and a degree in media from New Life University through its open learning program.
Her Political Positions
Muzna al-Atrash was not known to have taken a clear position on the Syrian revolution or events unfolding since 2011. She worked in Syria’s media sector under the former regime, particularly at state television, although her work was limited to cultural, social and arts programs.
Regarding events in her home governorate of Suwayda, al-Atrash adopted a more balanced position. She did not explicitly oppose the government, nor did she fully support the Druze religious leadership represented by the community’s spiritual leader, Hikmat al-Hijri.
Al-Atrash maintained her sense of national belonging to Syria while condemning the violence that struck the city at the time and killed hundreds of people on sectarian grounds.
She also joined other figures from Suwayda in a meeting in Damascus with a delegation of representatives from UN Security Council member states, who sought to learn about conditions in the city.
The al-Atrash Family
Born in 1987, Muzna belongs to the prominent al-Atrash family of Suwayda, whose members include political figures and artists.
Her father, Mamdouh al-Atrash, is an actor, writer and theater director. Her sister, Marwa, is also a young actress who has appeared in notable productions, including the television series *Al-Khirba*. Her cousin is the well-known actress Lilia al-Atrash.
The al-Atrash family includes several prominent historical figures, most notably Sultan Pasha al-Atrash, a leading national political figure who led the Great Syrian Revolt against French colonial rule in 1925.
In the arts, prominent members of the family include Farid al-Atrash and Asmahan.
Foreign Ministry Appointments
Al-Atrash’s appointment follows several others at the Foreign Ministry, which announced new department directors and advisers on June 21.
The appointments included Saad Baroud as director of American affairs, Sally Shobat as director of European affairs, Dr. Nada Aswad as director of Afro-Asian and Oceania affairs, Qutaiba Qadish as director of international cooperation, and Nahla Othman as director of expatriates and refugees.
Obaida Arnaout took charge of diplomatic representation, Dima Moussa of international agreements and treaties, Dr. Mohammad Abdul Salam of protocol, Dr. Hassan Junaidi of administrative development, and Abdul Nasser Kashou of cybersecurity. Riyad al-Khader was assigned to the security and protection department.
The ministry also appointed advisers to several portfolios, including Dr. Mohammad al-Ahmad for Arab affairs, Ambassador Jihad Makdissi for American affairs, Dr. Hamza al-Mustafa for European affairs, Mohammad al-Jaffal for Afro-Asian affairs, Talal Kanaan for energy and environment affairs, and Dr. Mohammad Ghadban for academic development and diplomatic training.
On October 20, Qutaiba Idlbi, the former director of American affairs at the Syrian Foreign Ministry, announced in a post on his official Facebook page that he had resigned from his duties at the ministry and the foreign minister’s private office.