Biography president assad religion

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In June 2018, North Korea's KCNA news agency announced that al-Assad was planning a state visit to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. His government faced international condemnation, sanctions, and allegations of war crimes, including the use of chemical weapons against civilians.

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Despite these controversies, Assad retained control over large parts of Syria for years, bolstered by support from Russia and Iran.

In January 2012, the Reuters News Agency reported that more than 5,000 civilians had been killed by the Syrian militia (Shabeeha), and that 1,000 people had been killed by anti-regime forces. Since then, relations with the West and many Arab states have deteriorated.

Despite promises of human rights reform, not much has changed since Bashar al-Assad took office.

This is his first visit to an Arab country since the Syrian civil war began in 2011.

May 19, 2023 - Attends an Arab League summit for the first time since his country was suspended from the group in 2011.

December 8, 2024 - After 13 years of civil war, rebel fighters declare the Syrian capital Damascus “liberated” in a video statement on state television.

Understanding the intersection of religion and politics in his regime provides valuable insight into the complex landscape of Syria, where sectarian identities influence alliances, hostilities, and the ongoing struggle for power.

What religion does Bashar Assad practice?

Bashar al-Assad, the former President of Syria, identifies as an Alawite, a sect that represents the third largest religious group in the country, following Sunni and Shi’a Muslims.

He evolved from a medical professional to one of the Middle East’s most controversial and enduring leaders. This declaration reflects the intertwining of religious and political elements in the historical landscape of Syria, shaping its leadership and cultural heritage.

Unveiling the Beliefs Behind the Regime

In the shadows of power, a complex web of beliefs sustains the regime, shaping its policies and actions.

This intersection often fosters a sense of community and shared purpose, as faith-based principles can unify diverse groups under common ethical standards. Through acts of courage and solidarity, the power of human connection fosters survival, transforming despair into determination. In this volatile environment, the challenge remains: fostering dialogue and reconciliation amidst a backdrop of deep-seated sectarian loyalties that continue to shape the future of Syria.

Bashar al-Assad’s religion plays a significant role in shaping the dynamics of his leadership and the political landscape of Syria.

According to activist groups in the area, helicopters had dropped barrel bombs filled with toxic gas on Douma, the last rebel-held town in Eastern Ghouta, resulting in at least four dozen casualties. Our editorial team researches information from reputable sources, including interviews, official statements, and verified media.
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US authorities also impose new economic sanctions against Damascus, freezing Syrian government assets in the United States, barring Americans from making new investments in Syria and prohibiting any US transactions relating to Syrian petroleum products, among other things.

October 10, 2011 - A statement issued after a meeting attended by all 27 foreign ministers in the European Union condemns “in the strongest possible terms the ongoing brutal repression led by the Syrian regime,” and declares that Syria’s leader must resign “to allow a political transition to take place in Syria.”

November 14, 2011 - Jordan’s King Abdullah calls on Assad to resign.

November 20, 2011 - In an interview with a British newspaper, Assad warns other countries that military intervention in Syria would have “very dire” repercussions and that his country “will not back down” in the face of international pressure and condemnation.

November 22, 2011 - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls on Assad to resign and warns that he faces the same fate as Benito Mussolini, Nicolae Ceausescu, and Moammar Gadhafi, all leaders killed by their own people.

December 7, 2011 - In an interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters, Assad denies responsibility for the violence in Syria and distances himself from the behavior of his armed forces.

March 10-11, 2012 - Assad meets twice with UN envoy Kofi Annan to discuss the bloodshed in Syria.

March 23, 2012 - European Union sanctions are placed on Assad’s wife, Asma, his mother, sister and sister-in-law.

Bashar has been married once. With much of the military composed of fellow Alawite associates, he was able to integrate the military into his political regime, and ruled Syria with an iron fist for three decades.

Bashar grew up quiet and reserved, in the shadow of his more dynamic and outgoing brother, Bassel.

London-born Asma cannot be barred entry into Britain despite the EU ban.

July 18, 2012 - Syria’s Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat, Assad’s brother-in-law, is killed, along with two other regime officials, in an explosion at a national security building in Damascus.

April 17, 2013 - In an interview with Syria state TV network al Ekhbariya, Assad compares the support of rebels in Syria now to the backing of fighters in Afghanistan during their war with Soviet troops in the 1980s.

However, he was able to stave off foreign intervention with assistance from Russian president Vladimir Putin, who agreed to help remove the Syrian stockade of chemical weapons.

Reelected to his post in June 2014, Bashar al-Assad continued his campaign against rebel forces while dismissing outside calls to step down.

He is married to Asma al-Assad (née Akhras), born on August 11, 1975, in London.

Asma was an investment banker before their marriage in December 2000.