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Bashar al-Assad (born 11 Sept 1965) is president of the Syrian Arab Republic and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. He became president in 2000 after the death of his father Hafez al-Assad, who had ruled Syria for 29 years.
Hafez al-Assad (6 October 1930 – 10 June 2000) was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule was praised for consolidating the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups. He also drew criticism for repressing his own people, in particular for ordering the Hama massacre of 1982, which has been described as "the single deadliest act by any Arab government against its own people in the modern Middle East". Human Rights groups have detailed thousands of extra-judicial executions he committed against opponents of his regime.
Hafez al-Assad (6 October 1930 – 10 June 2000) was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule was praised for consolidating the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups. He also drew criticism for repressing his own people, in particular for ordering the Hama massacre of 1982, which has been described as "the single deadliest act by any Arab government against its own people in the modern Middle East". Human Rights groups have detailed thousands of extra-judicial executions he committed against opponents of his regime.
The Alawis, also known as Alawites, Nusayris and Ansaris, are a prominent mystical and syncretic religious group centred in Syria who constitute a branch of Shia Islam. Distinct Alawi beliefs include the belief that prayers are not necessary, they do not fast, perform pilgrimage, nor have specific places of worship. Traditionally Alawis live in the An-Nusayriyah Mountains along the Mediterranean coast of Syria. Latakia and Tartous are the region's principal cities. Alawis are also concentrated in the plains around Hama and Homs.<br/><br/> Today Alawis also live in all major cities of Syria. They are estimated to constitute slightly less than 10% of the Syrian population (which would be about 2 million people in 2010).
Hafez al-Assad (6 October 1930 – 10 June 2000) was the president of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule was praised for consolidating the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups. He also drew criticism for repressing his own people, in particular for ordering the Hama massacre of 1982, which has been described as the single deadliest act by any Arab government against its own people in the modern Middle East. Human Rights groups have detailed thousands of extra-judicial executions he committed against opponents of his regime. He was succeeded by his son, Bashar al-Assad, in 2000.