Bassel al-Assad
Bassel al-Assad
باسل الأسد |
|
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Born | 23 March 1962 Damascus, Syria |
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Damascus, Syria |
Allegiance | Syria |
Service/ |
Syrian Arab Army |
Years of service | 1983–1994 |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Unit | 2nd Special Forces Regiment, 14th Airborne Division Republican Guard |
Commands held | 42nd Special Forces Regiment 12th Armoured Battalion, Syrian Arab Republican Guard. |
Awards | Hero of the Republic Order of Salahaddin |
Relations | Hafez al-Assad Rifaat al-Assad |
Bassel al-Assad (also Basil; Arabic: باسل الأسد, Bāssel al Assad; 23 March 1962 – 21 January 1994) was the eldest son of the former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and the older brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He was widely expected to succeed his father had it not been for his death in a car accident.
Contents
Early life and education
Bassel Assad was born on 23 March 1962.[1] He was trained as a civil engineer,[2] and held a PhD in military sciences.[3]
In 1988, regarding his relations with his father he told Patrick Seale "we saw father at home but he was so busy that three days could go by without us exchanging a word with him. We never had breakfast or dinner together, and I don't remember ever having lunch together as a family, or maybe we only did once or twice when state affairs were involved. As a family, we used to spend a day or two in Lattakia in the summer, but then too he used to work in the office and we didn't get to see much of him."[4]
Career and succession
Trained in parachute-jumping,[3] Assad was commissioned in the Special Forces and later switched to the armored corps after training in the Soviet Military Academies. He rapidly became a major and then commander of a brigade in the Republican Guard.[1][5] After Hafez Assad recovered from a serious illness in 1984, Bassel began to accompany his father in his visits.[6]
He first emerged on the national scene in 1987, when he won several equestrian medals at a regional tournament.[5] The Baath Party press in Syria long ago eulogised Bassel Assad as "the golden knight" due to his prowess in horsemanship.[7] Bassel also had a reputation for his interest in fast cars.[8] It was said by officials in Damascus that he was uncorrupted and honest.[7] His friends and teachers describe him as charismatic and commanding.[9]
He was appointed head of presidential security.[10][11] In addition, he launched the Syrian Computer Society in 1989, which was later headed by his brother Bashar.[12]
Originally President Hafez Assad's younger brother Rifaat al-Assad was his chosen successor,[3] but he unsuccessfully attempted to replace him when Hafez was in a coma in 1984. Following this incident, Bassel Assad was groomed to succeed his father.[13][14] However, elder Assad's efforts intensified to make him to be the next president of Syria in the early 1990s.[3] Since his last election victory in 1991, President Hafez Assad was publicly referred to as "Abu Basil" (Father of Bassel).[15] He was being introduced to European and Arab leaders at that period, and he was a close friend of the children of King Hussein of Jordan. He had been also introduced to King Fahd and then Lebanese leaders of all sects.[7] Assad had a significant role in Lebanese affairs.[16] Assad organized a highly publicized anti-corruption campaign within the regime, and frequently appeared in full military uniform at official receptions, signaling the regime's commitment to the armed forces.[8]
Personal life
Bassel is said to have spoken French and Russian fluently.[7] According to leaked US diplomatic cables, he had a relationship with a Lebanese woman, who later married Lebanese journalist and deputy Gebran Tueni.[17]
Death and burial
On 21 January 1994, driving his Mercedes[18] at high speed through fog to Damascus International Airport for a flight to Germany in the early hours of the morning,[19] Bassel is said to have collided with a motorway roundabout without wearing a seatbelt, and he died instantly.[8][20] It was reported that his cousin, Hafez Makhlouf, was with him and hospitalized with injuries after the accident.[20] A chauffeur in the back seat was unhurt.[8] Bassel Assad's body was taken to Al Assad University Hospital[20] and then buried in Qardaha in northern Syria, where his father's body was also later buried.[21][18]
Aftermath
After his death, shops, schools and public offices in Syria closed for three days, and luxury hotels suspended the sale of alcohol in respect.[5] Bassel Assad was elevated by the state into "the martyr of the country, the martyr of the nation and the symbol for its youth."[5] Numerous squares and streets were named after him. The new international swimming complex, various hospitals, sporting clubs, a military academy were named after him. The international airport in Latakia, was named after him bearing the name "Bassel Al Assad international airport" . His statue is found in several Syrian cities, and even after his death he is often pictured on billboards with his father and brother.[5]
Consequences
Bassel Assad's death led to his lesser-known brother Bashar al-Assad, then undertaking postgraduate training in ophthalmology in London, assuming the mantle of President-in-waiting. Bashar Assad became President following the death of Hafez Assad on 10 June 2000.[22] Bassel Assad's posters and his name were also used to secure a smooth transition after Hafez Assad through the slogan "Basil, the Example: Bashar, the Future."[23]
See also
External links
- The death of Bassel al Assad BBC World Service Witness episode
References
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