Human Rights Advocate Omar Alshogre Is COA Commencement Speaker
Press release
BAR HARBOR—Syrian human rights advocate and former political prisoner Omar Alshogre will give the keynote address at College of the Atlantic’s 52nd Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, June 7. Alshogre will be awarded an honorary Master of Philosophy degree at the ceremony.
Arrested at age 15 for participating in pro-democracy demonstrations, Alshogre survived three years of unjust detention in Syria, enduring torture and starvation before being smuggled to safety. From exile, he dedicated himself to exposing the regime’s crimes and advocating for justice—efforts that contributed to the fall of the Assad dictatorship and the liberation of all political prisoners in Syria.
Alshogre is a Georgetown University graduate and has testified before the U.S. Congress, sharing firsthand accounts of the Syrian regime’s atrocities. As the former director of detainees affairs at the Syrian Emergency Task Force, he played a pivotal role in rallying international support for Syrian detainees. His testimony helped drive legal actions against war criminals and kept the voices of the imprisoned alive on the global stage. With the regime now overthrown, he is focused on rebuilding Syria, ensuring justice for victims, and shaping a democratic future for his homeland.
A captivating speaker, Alshogre has delivered multiple TEDx talks and has spoken, among other places, at the United Nations Security Council, using his powerful storytelling to move policymakers to action. His lectures on leadership in crisis, effective storytelling, and trauma as a driving force have inspired audiences at Harvard, Princeton, Boston Consulting Group, Spotify, and beyond.
Alshogre’s resilience and commitment to justice have earned him global recognition. He was awarded the Compass Rose Scholarship in 2020 by the King of Sweden for his compassion, courage, and strong values. He also received the Excellence in Human Rights Award from the Atlantic Human Rights Centre. Most recently, Alshogre was selected as an Obama Leader for Europe (2024-2025) as part of the Obama Foundation’s leadership program. Now, as Syria enters a new era of freedom, Omar continues to advocate for truth, reconciliation, and a future built on justice and dignity.