Career
In August 2012, Tom Coghlan, writing in The Times of London, described her as "the female face of the Syrian revolution."
Kanafani emigrated to Canada in 2002, after working in the United Arab Emirates. In the months leading up to her decision to volunteer Kanafani described participating in social media discussions about the unrest in Syria, and the number of deaths of innocent civilians. The Free Syrian Army broadcast a YouTube recruiting video showing Kanafani surrounded by other fighters, where she announced she had joined the Banner of Damascus Falcons Troop of Aleppo Martyrs.
In early August 2012 Kanafani had crossed back into Turkey, after two of her bodyguards were killed.
In October 2012 Armina Ligaya writing in the National Post reported on Kanafani"s return to Canada. She quoted Kanafani remaining committed to return to Syria.
Kanafani had not served as a front-line fighter, and had not been called upon to fire her weapon. Her duties had consisted of committee meetings, visiting refugee camps, and other recruiting activities.
Kanafani had also gone underground, and had scouted areas still occupied by al-Assad loyalists.
In an October 2012 profile of Khaled Sawaf, president of the Syrian Canadian Council, Simon Kent, writing in the Toronto Sun, reported that Sawaf described Kanafani. In 2015 the Toronto Star described Kanafani as having left the front lines after growing disillusioned.
