Bashar al-Assad
| Bashar al-Assad بشار حافظ الأسد |
|
|---|---|
| President of Syria | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 17 July 2000 |
|
| Prime Minister |
See list
|
| Vice President |
See list
|
| Preceded by | Abdul Halim Khaddam (Acting) |
| Regional Secretary of the Regional Command of the Syrian Regional Branch | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 24 June 2000 |
|
| Deputy |
See list
|
| Leader | Abdullah al-Ahmar |
| Preceded by | Hafez al-Assad |
| Member of the Regional Command of the Syrian Regional Branch | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 21 June 2000 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bashar Hafez al-Assad 11 September 1965 Damascus, Syria |
| Political party | Ba'ath Party |
| Other political affiliations |
National Progressive Front |
| Spouse(s) | Asma al-Akhras |
| Children | Hafez Zein Karim |
| Alma mater | Damascus University |
| Religion | Alawite |
| Website | The President |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/branch | Syrian Armed Forces |
| Years of service | 1988– |
| Rank | |
| Unit | Republican Guard Presently serving as commander-in-chief |
| Battles/wars | Syrian civil war (2011–) |
Bashar al-Assad (born 11 September 1965) is the president of Syria and the head of the Ba'ath Party in Syria.
Assad has had those jobs since the death of his father Hafez al-Assad (1930-2000), who had ruled Syria since 1971.[1] Bashar al-Assad was elected in 2000, and re-elected in 2007. He was unopposed each time.[2][3]
Contents
Early life[change | change source]
Assad was born on 11 September 1965 in Damascus, Syria to Hafez al-Assad. He had two brothers, Bassel al-Assad and Shabbih Maher al-Assad, and one sister, Bushra al-Assad. Bashar was quiet and reserved and says that he lacked interest in politics or the military.
Education[change | change source]
Assad studied medicine at the University of Damascus and graduated in 1988.[4] He then studied ophthalmology at a military hospital, and in 1992 studied at the Western Eye Hospital in London.[4]
His father wanted Assad's brother Bassel to succeed him as leader of Syria.[4] Bassel died in a car accident in 1994, and Assad returned home to Syria.
Early career[change | change source]
He went to a military academy at Homs, and became a colonel after only five years. He worked as an adviser to his father, and took action against corruption.
Presidency[change | change source]
When his father died, the government changed the constitution. Under Syrian law the president had to be at least 40 years old. With law changed, Assad was able to be elected President of Syria in June 2000.[4] He was also made commander in chief of the armed forces, and leader of the Ba'ath Party which has ruled Syria since 1961.[4]
2011 Syrian Civil War[change | change source]
Since March 2011, civil war took place in Syria. He has responded the protest and violence with the use of his force. By June 2013 93,000 people have been killed from all sides.[5]
Bashar was considered a younger-generation Arab leader, who would bring change to Syria, a region long filled with aging dictators. He was well-educated, and many believed he would be capable of transforming his father's iron-rule regime into a modern state.
Personal life[change | change source]
Assad is married to Asma al-Akhras. Together, they have three children; Hafez, Jr., Zein, and Karim al-Assad.
Influenced by his western education and urban upbringing, Bashar initially seemed eager to implement a cultural revolution in Syria.
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Bashar al-Assad (president of Syria) --". Britannica Online Encyclopedia. 2012. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/711020/Bashar-al-Assad?anchor=ref838844. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ↑ "Syrians Vote For Assad in Uncontested Referendum". The Washington Post. 28 May 2007. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/27/AR2007052701117.html.
- ↑ "Syria's Assad wins another term". BBC News. 29 May 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6700021.stm.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Bashar al-Assad Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story". biography.com. 2012. http://www.biography.com/people/bashar-al-assad-20878575. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ↑ http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/02/world/meast/syria-civil-war
Other websites[change | change source]
| Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Bashar al-Assad |
Media related to Bashar al-Assad at Wikimedia Commons
- President Al-Assad on Facebook
- Official website
- Profile at the LookLex Encyclopedia
- Unofficial website
- Unofficial website
- Articles
- Bashar al-Assad at the Internet Movie Database
- Syria’s Proxy Forces in Iraq, Al-Hayat (London), 12 April 2003 at Middle East Intelligence Bulletin
- Profile: Syria's Bashar al-Assad BBC News, 10 March 2005
- Bashar al-Assad's Lebanon Gamble, William Harris, Middle East Quarterly, Summer 2005
- Assad on the Brink, David Hirst, The Nation, 21 November 2005
- Syria's Leaders, Esther Pan, Council on Foreign Relations, 10 March 2006
- Connecting the dots in Lebanon, Omar Raad, Ya Libnan Volunteer, 2 December 2006
- The Assad Dynasty in Syria: From Father to Son, Kristin Helberg, Deutsche Welle, 2009 at qantara.de
- Interview With Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, The Wall Street Journal, 31 January 2011
- Profile: Bashar al-Assad, Al Jazeera English, 25 March 2011