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Bashar al-Assad: biography
Bashar al-Assad is the president of Syria since 2000, a Syrian politician and statesman, the son of the previous president, Hafez al-Assad. Full name: Bashar Hafez al-Assad. Born – September 11, 1965. Place of birth: Damascus. Religion: Islam (Alawite).
Education: Damascus University. Fluent in English and French. Party leader: Baath. Profession: ophthalmologist, military Military rank: Marshal. Bashar al-Assad has two sons and a daughter. Hobbies: Internet and computer science. Height: 1,89 m, zodiac sign – Virgo.
Has orders:
- Prince Yaroslav the Wise I degree (2002, Ukraine);
- Saint Gregory the Illuminator (2009, Armenia);
- Order of the “Liberator” I degree with a replica of the sword of Bolivar (2010, Venezuela);
- Grand National Order of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2010).
Childhood and youth
The family in which Bashar grew up was large and friendly. The family had five children. Bashar was the third child in the family: he had an older sister Bushra and a brother Basel and two younger brothers Maher and Majid. In accordance with tradition, Basel Assad was preparing for the post of successor.
At the time Bashar was born, his father Hafez Assad was the commander of the Syrian Air Force and Air Defense, later his father was elected President of Syria.
When it was time for Bashar to go to school, his father assigned him to a privileged Arabic-French lyceum, after which he sent his son to serve in the army.
Demobilized as a sergeant, the guy entered the medical faculty of Damascus University, where he successfully completed training as an ophthalmologist. Then he specialized in the military hospital “Tishrin” in Damascus.
In 1991, Hafez Assad arranged an internship for his son in England at the University of Oxford. Everyone who communicated with Bashar in London speaks of him as a calm and benevolent person, distinguished by gentle manners.
Bashar led an unremarkable lifestyle, participated in international scientific symposia, preferring to spend time with intellectuals, rather than among the military or politicians. In 1992-1994 he continued his education at the Western Eye Hospital ophthalmology center in London.
From doctor to president
The charming, blue-eyed ophthalmologist was engaged in what he loved, but on January 21, 1994, his life changed radically.
Damascus. On an early foggy morning that day, elder brother Basil was driving his Mercedes and racing to the international airport for a flight to Germany. The Mercedes took off at high speed from the ring highway. Basil died on the spot. This death shocked the Syrians!
Bashar was forced to interrupt his studies in London and, after persuading his father, agreed to become his successor.
Bashar al-Assad entered the military academy in the city of Homs, and in 1995, with the rank of captain, already commanded a tank battalion. Then he headed the Republican Guard. In January 1999 he was promoted to the rank of colonel.
Basil Assad
In parallel with his military service, he was an adviser to his father, headed the bureau for handling complaints and appeals of citizens and the campaign against corruption.
- after the death of his father in 2000 he was elected president of Syria;
- On May 27, 2007, another referendum was held to re-elect Assad as head of state, where he won 97,62% of the vote;
- On June 3, 2014, Bashar al-Assad becomes president again. He received an absolute majority of votes, namely 88,7%. (Applications for participation in the elections were submitted by 24 candidates, of which three were admitted to the elections).
The president is married. And his popularity in Syria, according to the testimony of many observers, he owes much to his wife.
Asma Assad
Asma was born in London on August 11, 1975. Her family comes from the famous Sunni clan in the Syrian city of Homs. Asma, the daughter of a renowned cardiologist, grew up in the Acton area in the west of the British capital.
Bashar al-Assad with his wife Asma al-Assad
She attended a private girls’ school and later received honors degrees from King’s College, University of London, in computer technology and French literature. She worked at the investment bank JP Morgan.
Asma returned to Syria in November 2000 and married Assad in 2001 (they met in London). Asma Assad has dual citizenship and her parents still live in the London suburb of Acton.
This video provides additional information to the article.
This beautiful couple has three children. In 2001, a son, Hafez (named after his father), was born, in 2003, a daughter, Zane, and in 2004, a son, Karim. The biography of Bashar al-Assad continues!
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