Mouaz Moustafa is a Syrian-American activist who advocates for democracy and human rights in Syria. In 2023, he received the James W. Foley Freedom Award (humanitarian award).^[1]

Born and raised in Damascus, he moved to the United States as a teenager in 1995.^[2] He earned a degree in international relations from the University of Central Arkansas and subsequently worked on Capitol Hill as a staffer for U.S. Congressman Vic Snyder and U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln.^[3]

In 2011, Moustafa became the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF), an organization that supports the pro-democracy movement in Syria. In this role, he has coordinated advocacy efforts, led delegations to the Syrian border for journalists and lawmakers, and overseen humanitarian projects within Syria.^[4][5]

Notably, he facilitated U.S. Senator John McCain's visit with the Northern Storm Brigade inside Syria in 2013.^[6][7] He coordinated humanitarian assistance after the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes.^[4] In December 2024, after Fall of the Assad regime, Moustafa reported the discovery of a mass grave near Damascus containing at least 100,000 bodies, allegedly victims of the former Syrian government led by Bashar al-Assad. He emphasized the need to secure these sites to preserve evidence for future investigations.^[8]

He has provided commentary in the media on issues involving Syria.^[9] He was featured in the documentary film Red Lines that depicts the civil war in Syria and his efforts to raise international support for the Syrian revolution and to promote democracy in the Middle East.

In 2024, Moustafa raised concerns about the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence.^[10]

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