Bashars father and predecessor, hafez alassad, rose to the syrian presidency from an impoverished alawite family. Rifaat alassad was born in the village of qardaha, near lattakia in western syria on 22 august 1937. The syrian first lady, who grew up in west london and moved to the. He was involved personally in tortures as part of his education to subjugate the masses to his own ironfist rule as heir. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Aug 03, 2012 i was hoping for much more when i first got my hands on syria. Early monday evening, bashar alassad, the president of syria, stood at the front door of his palace in central damascus to meet a group of american reporters and researchers. The makhloufs are prime financiers of bashar alassads brutal regime. He climbed its ranks as the country suffered a series of coups, first through the breakup. How syrias turmoil is rooted in an earlymorning 1994 car crash. In the library the section containing books in english has a copy of the autobiography of king juan carlos of spain, inscribed affectionately by the author. Makhloufs four sons occupy various positions in the syrian establishment, the most prominent being rami makhlouf, known to syrians as the wealthiest man in the country.
Hafez, a member of the alawite tribe, a sect of shiites in a sunnimajority arab country. Selected books on the civil war in syria the boston globe. Apr 07, 2017 bashar alassad, born in damascus on september 11, 1965, is the scion of a powerful family in syrian politics. Bushras husband, security bigwig assef shawkat, was killed in the july 18th bombing. How syrias turmoil is rooted in an earlymorning 1994 car. Whos who in syrian president bashar al assads inner. He was just two years old when his father became president of syria. Dec 07, 2018 hafez al assad was the architect of modern syria.
Bashars younger brother, maher, is in charge of the syrian secret police and protecting the capital city. Like the other children in the al assad family, he was raised out of the public spotlight and trained in syria. Syrias ruthless ruling family this article is more than 8 years old the dynasty founded on hafez alassads rise from poverty and obscurity is maintained by some. This is an excellent book on the assad family, the key figures who built the. He served in the parliament of syria, called the majlis ashshab from 1971 until his. Maher alassad was born on 8 december 1967, the youngest child of aniseh makhlouf and hafez alassad. Hafez al assad, who was born into a poor family, joined the baath party as a student and later became a lieutenant in the syrian air force. Read president bashar alassad of syria and the alnusra front and foreign mujahideen uprising to create the islamic state of iraq and syria by heinz duthel available from rakuten kobo. President bashar al assad of syria and the al nusra front and foreign mujahideen uprising to create the islamic state of iraq and syria. Syrians in revolution and war by robin yassinkassab and leila alshami. Apr 21, 2017 7 books about syria to help you understand the ongoing crisis.
List of books and articles about syrian history online. President bashar alassad of syria and the alnusra front and foreign mujahideen uprising to create the islamic. At first, his goals included achieving panarabism, more evenly distributing the nations oil wealth, and extending the partys power by reaching into every aspect of syrians lives. The syrian government has long been packed with family members with unshakable loyalty to their leadership. The al assad clan had opportunities to benefit from insider trading practices, given that they controlled government economic policy, and to receive business licenses and contracts. After this bushra, who is the presidents sister, moved to. The history behind bashar alassads rise to power and the civil war. Sep 10, 20 a short history of syrias brutal first family. Syrian president bashar al assad took over the presidency in 2000 when his father, hafez al assad.
Two years ago, before the syrian civil war, back when demonstrators literally carried olive branches, president bashar alassad gave a speech once again insisting the unrest was the work of. Dagher explains brutal syrian regimes in assad or we burn the. Apr 07, 2017 whos who in syrian president bashar al assad s inner circle. Its a history of the assad familys takeover of syria with hafez alassad in 1971, then his crushing of the rebellion in homs in the 1980s, and bashars rise to power after the sudden death of his older brother. How the assad family has maintained power in syria. President bashar alassad of syria ebook by heinz duthel. Ms attar is from a sunni family, and the first woman to hold such a high position in syria. Apr 11, 2017 since the bloodless coup, in 1970, that brought the family to power, the assad dynastythe founding father, hafez, and his heir and second son, basharhas exasperated nine american presidents. Spanish police raid syrian leader bashar alassad familys. In early 1971, alassad was overwhelmingly elected to a sevenyear term as president. Already in the time of hafez al assad, his propensity for promoting his friends and. Aug 01, 2009 alturk alawite alliance allies arab nations arab world arabia arafat army arrested assad assassination attack bath party bathists bashar alassad basil became began bitar borders britain brother caliphate called camps cities communist coup crusades damascus spring druze early economic egypt enemy exile father forces france french goal. Jun 15, 2012 across the country, bashar alassad, once revered as the lion assad in arabic of damascus, has been ridiculed in syrias revolution as a giraffe and is now dubbed a duck, the nickname.
Its not as if the assad family ever truly had it easy. Later in 1971, syria, libya, and egypt agreed to unite loosely in the federation of arab republics. In spring 2011, syrian president bashar alassad turned to his friend and army. Hafez alassad became president of syria in 1971, following a long line of military leaders.
Bashar alassad bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Following decades of coups and countercoups in syria, hafez used the network he had built in the posts of commander of the syrian air force and minister of defence to seize power in 1970. Bashar al assad celebrating the second birthday of one of their children with wife asma assad picture. Like the other children in the alassad family, he was raised out of the public spotlight and trained in syria. Maher is also known by many to be the most ruthless in the alassad family. Beyond that, ive paid decades of attention to syria since the time of hafaz assad. In early 1971, al assad was overwhelmingly elected to a sevenyear term as president. Already in the time of hafez alassad, his propensity for promoting his friends and. The alassad clan had opportunities to benefit from insider trading practices, given that they controlled government economic policy, and to receive business licenses and contracts. His father hafez alassad ruled syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. The assad regime al assad successfully ousted al attassi in nov. It begins with a discussion of al assad s first years in office, the damascus spring and the increasing international pressure following 911 and the assassination of former prime minister of lebanon, rafic hariri. A picture taken on april 4, 2017 shows destruction at a hospital in khan sheikhun, a rebelheld town in the northwestern syrian idlib province, following a suspected toxic gas attack.
What could possibly motivate a chemicalweapons attack. He is an outspoken world leader just as his father was, and he has continued hafez alassads practice of employing family members in highranking positions. The fall of the house of assad is by turns quite fascinating. He served in the parliament of syria, called the majlis ashshab from 1971 until his death. Two years ago, before the syrian civil war, back when demonstrators literally carried olive branches, president bashar al assad gave a speech once again insisting the unrest was the work of. Since the bloodless coup, in 1970, that brought the family to power, the assad dynastythe founding father, hafez, and his heir and second son, basharhas exasperated nine american presidents. It begins with a discussion of alassads first years in office, the damascus spring and the increasing international pressure following 911 and the assassination of former prime minister of lebanon, rafic hariri. After his death in 2000, his son bashar succeeded him. Sep 09, 20 bashars father and predecessor, hafez alassad, rose to the syrian presidency from an impoverished alawite family. Whos who in syrian president bashar al assads inner circle. Syrians in revolution and war by robin yassinkassab and leila al shami. Tlass, the main insider source for this account of the assad familys half. Syrian president bashar alassad took over the presidency in. In 1946, the same year syria gained its independence, sixteenyearold hafez.
And this is the worse part of it when you realize that what separates you, someone who can leave, from someone who is trapped in aleppo, or homs or douma or darayya, is that you can walk away and go back to your home with electricity and sliced bread. Nov 01, 2016 early monday evening, bashar al assad, the president of syria, stood at the front door of his palace in central damascus to meet a group of american reporters and researchers. Across the country, bashar alassad, once revered as the lion assad in arabic of damascus, has been ridiculed in syrias revolution as a giraffe and is now dubbed a duck, the nickname. Police in southern spain on tuesday staged raids targeting assets of the family of syrian leader bashar alassad, a judicial source said. Hafez alassad, who was born into a poor family, joined the baath party as a student and later became a lieutenant in the syrian air force. Bashar alassad celebrating the second birthday of one of their children with wife asma assad picture. Alassad was elected in 2000, reelected in 2007, unopposed each time. Its driver was 31yearold bassel alassad, the eldest son of syrias president, hafez alassad, and he died instantly. The alassad family has ruled syria since hafez alassad became president of syria in 1971. Asad has ruled syria since hafez al assad became president of syria in 1971 and established an authoritarian to totalitarian regime under the control of the baath party. In the spring of 2011, syrian president bashar alassad turned to his lifelong friend. Syrian president bashar alassad is from a powerful family. Hafez ibn ali ibn sulayman alassad 1930 2000 genealogy.
Whos who in syrian president bashar al assad s inner circle. Maher alassad was born on 8 december 1967, the youngest child of anisa makhlouf and hafez alassad. Here, we take a look at the key players in the syrian presidents inner circle. Maher assad, the presidents only living brother, is an important military voice within the regime and is believed to be one of the masterminds of the current crackdown, which has left over 60,000 dead. Media in category maher alassad the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. Assad or we burn the country and millions of other books are available for. Shawkat had been on rather strained terms with some of the alassad family members. The 51yearold initially, trained as a doctor, and as a postgraduate spent time in. They are linked to the president by political and family ties and are actively involved in the deadly suppression of the syrian uprising. This country has been much in the news, and ive been following its deterioration quite closely.
Sam, in this book, youre telling the story of the assad family, but. New book reveals unknown details about how assad prevailed in. Syrian president bashar al assad s family photo album. The older son basil alassad, who died in a car crash in january of 1994, was known for hisa acrimoniousa anger and uncontrollable disposition. Maher alassad is a syrian general and commander of the republican guard and the armys. There is something really strange about the children of hafez alassad.
For bashar assad, clan is everything, and outsiders are just that people. Asma alassad gave a rare television interview on 18 october, saying she had refused offers of asylum for her and her children. If you really want to understand whats going on in syria, this is probably the best book to read. The tlass family were from syrias majority sunni muslim community, many of.
Syrian president bashar alassad took over the presidency in 2000 when his father, hafez alassad, died after ruling the country for three decades. Assads reaction to daraa, advised by his younger brother maher and cousin. He studied political science and economics at damascus university and was later given an honorary phd in politics from the soviet academy of sciences. In 1946, the same year syria gained its independence, sixteenyearold hafez joined the syrian baath party. In daghers book, this is graphically described from grim personal. Oct 21, 2016 asma al assad gave a rare television interview on 18 october, saying she had refused offers of asylum for her and her children. The assad family originates from sulayman alwahhish, hafez assads grandfather, who lived in the northern syrian mountains in the village of qardaha. Born in 1933, ms attar is from a sunni family, and the first woman to hold such a high position in syria. The domestic syrian opposition, the united states, canada, the european union states, and the members of the arab league called for his resignation in 20 after it was revealed that he used chemical warfare on his own people.
Asad has ruled syria since hafez alassad became president of syria in 1971 and established an authoritarian to totalitarian regime under the control of the baath party. The history behind bashar alassads rise to power and the civil war charles river editors on. The assad regime alassad successfully ousted alattassi in nov. The locals reportedly nicknamed him wahhish, which means wild beast in arabic, because he was physically strong and a good fighter. Media in category maher al assad the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. Bashar alassad, born in damascus on september 11, 1965, is the scion of a powerful family in syrian politics. Sep 07, 2011 there is something really strange about the children of hafez alassad. We learn that assads brother, maher, and his maternal cousins, the. After his death in 2000, his son bashar succeeded him the assads are originally from qardaha, just east of latakia in northwest syria. Syrian president bashar alassads family photo album.
I was hoping for much more when i first got my hands on syria. Genealogy profile for hafez ibn ali ibn sulayman alassad hafez ibn ali ibn sulayman alassad 1930 2000 genealogy genealogy for hafez ibn ali ibn sulayman alassad 1930 2000 family tree on geni, with over 190 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. The blast killed several influential representatives of alassads inner circle. When syrian president bashar alassad came to power upon his fathers death in 2000, many in and outside syria held high hopes that the popular young doctor would bring longawaited reform, that he would be a new kind of middle east leader. He has three children with his wife asma alassad, whom he married in 2000.
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