Elham Said is a defense lawyer with more than 15 years of experience specializing in supporting women and vulnerable groups. She is a member of the Free Aleppo Bar Association and previously served as a Member of the Council of the Free Syrian Bar Association. She believes that human rights are the foundation of any fair and stable society. She has seen how legal trainings and awareness campaigns, particularly for women and vulnerable groups, can enable individuals to assert and protect their rights. She has worked with IBJ to provide legal defense for detainees and victims.  Through her work with IBJ she strengthened her belief that early legal representation, training, and community participation are crucial tools for preventing violations and supporting human rights defenders. Read more.

Manhel Saleh Al-Mousa is a defense lawyer committed to ensuring that every detainee has access to legal representation and fair trials. Mr Al-Mousa has experience training lawyers at the Free Syrian Bar Association in locations such as A’zaz Afrin, Al-Rai, Al-Bab and Jarablus. Building on his experience with IBJ, he has worked to protect the rights of juveniles, migrants, and other vulnerable groups. His work focuses on addressing gaps in the criminal justice system, including delays in legal representation, lack of cooperation among legal actors, and the absence of specialized support for women and marginalized individuals. He conducted humanitarian needs assessments during the war and volunteered to distribute food where needed. Read more.

Aisha Hasan Al-Najjar is a defense lawyer with more than 5 years of experience working in the field of human rights and criminal justice. She believes that human dignity is a non-negotiable right, and that the law must be a tool to protect people, not to violate their rights. In her field, she has seen how procedural flaws can drastically affect people’s lives. She has been registered with the Free Aleppo Bar Association since 2021. Ms Al-Najjar believes that justice comes from safeguarding the rights of both the accused and the victim. She has experience in training lawyers and judges in criminal defense skills and fair trial guarantees. Her passions also include reading novels as well as promoting dialogue among people. Read more.

Abdulaziz Darwish is a defense lawyer and a human rights advocate in Aleppo. He has more than 20 years of experience as a lawyer. He has held three significant positions: Secretary-General of the Free Aleppo Bar Association, the Chair of the Board of Directors of National Center for Justice in Syria and the Head of the Aleppo Lawyers’ Training Committee. He remains committed to strengthening the rule of law and protecting vulnerable groups within his community. Read More.

Basima Muhammad Ali Musattat is a defense lawyer registered with the Aleppo Bar Association. She has more than 5 years of experience providing legal defense. She believes that transitional justice is essential during periods of political and social transition and that the law is a mechanism for protecting individuals who have suffered human rights violations. Read more.

Abdulhakim Hussein Ali Al-Hamad is a legal professional with more than 15 years of experience as a defense lawyer, and a trainer. He has seen how people’s lack of legal knowledge leaves them vulnerable to violations.  He has been involved with IBJ in the past as a trainee and later became a trainer. Mr Al-Hamad wants to ensure that vulnerable groups can understand and exercise their rights. He remains active in community reconciliation, legal training, and awareness initiatives. Read more.

Alaa Al-Hussein is a defense lawyer and a legal advisor. Through her work, Ms. Al-Hussein has seen how detainees who are unaware of their procedural and constitutional rights from the moment of arrest, are highly vulnerable to rights violations. She believes that the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights are essential to justice and accountability. She is a lawyer at the Free Aleppo Bar Association, an investigator at the Commission for International Justice and Accountability and she has worked with IBJ in the past. Outside her work, she engages on issues on civil peace and works with local civil society organizations to understand the challenges that local communities face. Read more.

Ibrahim Naif bin Khaled is a defense lawyer with more than 15 years of experience of protecting vulnerable groups, including women, children, and marginalized individuals. He is a member of the Free Aleppo Bar Association since 2010, and he is a founding member of the Free Syrian Bar Association. He has experience handling cases where people lacked legal guidance or the ability to defend themselves. Mr Khaled has worked with IBJ on initiatives aimed at strengthening the rights of the accused and promoting early access to a defense lawyer. Read more.

Bushra Kanjo Kaakeh is a defense lawyer licensed at Aleppo Bar Association. She has more than 5 years of experience across criminal, Sharia, commercial, and civil law. She is dedicated to ensuring that all individuals can assert their rights and be able to defend themselves. Her commitment is driven by a sense of duty to support vulnerable individuals. Read more.

Muhammad Al-Saleh is a defense lawyer with more than 15 years of experience in human rights and criminal justice.  His motivation comes from seeing how the lack of early access to legal counsel and fair trials leads to violations, torture, and a loss of trust in the justice system. He has led legal advisory teams at Syria Relief in areas such as Atarib, Orem, and Kafr Naha, reaching hundreds of people and building networks with the local lawyers. He is passionate about studying legal philosophy and keeping up with justice system reforms worldwide. Mr Al-Saleh is also active in community volunteering and supports initiatives that encourage civic engagement and strengthen cooperation within society. Read more.

Muhammad Haj Abdo is a defense lawyer and a certified arbitrator with over 25 years of experience in the legal field. He is a registered lawyer with the Free Syrian Bar Association and has previously worked as a Legal Trainer with IBJ. Throughout his career, he has witnessed severe human rights violations affecting communities, which motivated him to dedicate his work to protecting vulnerable groups through early access to justice. He has worked in several judicial bodies, courts, and local governance structures, including Afrin Local Council, where he served as Head of the Legal Office and provided legal advice and legal support. He has also held senior legal and administrative positions within interim government institutions and worked as a legal advisor and trainer for local councils. Muhammad currently runs his own law office and continues to provide legal consultancy services in Afrin. Read more.

Nada Al-Jarayhi is a defense lawyer committed to supporting individuals who lack access to legal representation, especially those affected by poverty and displacement. She has more than 10 years of experience working in different fields related to business administration, project monitoring and evaluation, teaching, health awareness, and legal consulting. Her motivation to work in human rights comes from wanting to help people who face legal challenges without the knowledge or resources needed to defend themselves. Read more.

Mustafa Abdulfattah Khalaf is a defense lawyer working in Idlib with more than 10 years of experience. He is committed to strengthening justice and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups. His motivation to work in human rights comes from his belief that dignity and fairness must be upheld, especially in a context where daily violations affect people’s lives and trust in public institutions. Outside his work, he continues to study legal and human rights topics, especially issues related to transitional justice and vulnerable populations. He also volunteers in community initiatives and writes short legal analyses to contribute to public understanding of justice and human rights. Read more.

Nour Rakbi is a defense lawyer whose commitment to human rights work comes from a desire to help individuals who face legal challenges without the knowledge or support needed to defend themselves. Ms Rakbi has previous experience in project work and has taken on leadership roles. She continues to strengthen her legal skills by taking courses with IBJ. Outside her professional activities, her interests include reading and playing sports. Read more.

Nader Mohammed Al-Matrouh is a defense lawyer with more than 15 years of experience. He is committed to supporting vulnerable groups who have faced different human rights violations and have not received legal aid. His motivation stems from seeing how displaced individuals, returnees, and survivors of trafficking struggle to access legal protection due to discrimination or a lack of resources. During his time as Director of the Legal Support Center for Free Consultations (2018–2019), he witnessed firsthand how the absence of legal representation leaves people exposed to unfair procedures and rights violations. He also worked at the Free Aleppo Bar Association and at the Syrian Initiative for Legal and Community Awareness. Read more.

Salah Khaled Al-Ruwaili is a defense lawyer committed to strengthening the rule of law and supporting vulnerable individuals in his community. He has more than 5 years of experience in working in human rights, especially helping families who lack legal knowledge and often become victims of unfair procedures. Read more.

Walaa Olabi is a defense lawyer from Aleppo committed to advancing justice and supporting individuals who lack access to legal information and assistance. Her background includes taking courses given by IBJ. She believes that people, especially vulnerable groups, must be able to understand their rights and must know how to exercise them, in order to reduce the number of human rights violations. Read more.

Thamer Houmad is a defense lawyer with more than 5 years of experience. He is committed to protecting vulnerable individuals and promoting justice. He has worked as a legal professional at Ataa Humanitarian Relief Association and other NGOs. His interests center on promoting legal education and ensuring that defendants are informed about their rights so they can navigate the legal system more efficiently. Read more.