Bassel al-Assad

File:Bassel's childhood.jpg

Bassel al-Assad was born on 23 March 1962 in the national capital city of Damascus, in the Syrian Arab Republic (Syria), into an Alawite family.{{sfn|Zisser|1995}} He was the son of Hafez al-Assad, and Anisa Makhlouf. He had an older sister named Bushra and three brothers named Bashar, Majd, and Maher.

He was trained as a civil engineer, and held a PhD in military sciences.{{cite news|title=Assad son dies in car accident|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19940121&id=E7RMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6789,4869942|accessdate=13 July 2012|newspaper=Rome News Tribune|date=21 June 1994}} He said about his childhood:

{{bquote|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 Latakia in the summer, but then too he used to work in the office and we didn't get to see much of him.in conversation with Patrick Seale, 1988{{cite news|title=Mid-East Realities|url=http://www.middleeast.org/archives/6-00-13.htm|accessdate=9 March 2013|work=Middle East|date=11 June 2000}}}}

Trained in parachuting, he was commissioned in the Special Forces and later switched to the armoured corps after training in Soviet military academies. He was rapidly promoted, becoming a major and then commander of a brigade in the Republican Guard.{{cite journal |last=Zisser |first=Eyal |date=September 1995 |title=The Succession Struggle in Damascus |url=http://www.meforum.org/264/the-succession-struggle-in-damascus |journal=Middle East Forum |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=57–64 |accessdate=14 July 2012}}

After his father recovered from a serious illness in 1984, Bassel began to accompany him and he emerged on the national scene in 1987, when he won several equestrian medals at a regional tournament.{{cite book|author=Kathy A. Zahler|title=The Assads' Syria|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2kYHQxvxWjEC&pg=PA10|accessdate=12 March 2010|date=1 August 2009|publisher=Twenty-First Century Books|isbn=978-0-8225-9095-8|pages=71}} The Ba'ath Party press in Syria eulogised him as the "Golden Knight" because of his prowess on horseback.{{cite news|last=Fisk|first=Robert|title=Syria mourns death of a 'golden son'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/syria-mourns-death-of-a-golden-son-basil-assads-fatal-car-crash-throws-open-the-question-of-who-will-succeed-the-president-writes-robert-fisk-in-beirut-1408555.html|accessdate=13 June 2012|newspaper=The Independent|date=22 January 1994}} Bassel also had a rival equestrian competitor, Adnan Qassar, imprisoned in 1993 for beating him in a horse race; Qassar was released from Sednaya Prison in 2014.{{cite web |last1=The Syrian Observer |title=Captain Adnan Kassar, Arrested For Beating Basel Assad in Race, Released - The Syrian Observer |url=https://syrianobserver.com/society/captain_adnan_kassar_arrested_for_beating_basel_assad_in_race_released.html |website=The Syrian Observer |access-date=16 December 2024 |date=17 June 2014}} He also had a reputation for an interest in fast cars, and his friends described him as charismatic and commanding.{{cite news|last=Bennet|first=James|title=The Enigma of Damascus|url=http://www.comedia.cat/proyectos/docu/the-enigma-of-damascus_the-new-york-times_july-2005-529.pdf|accessdate=21 July 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=10 July 2005}} Assad was soon appointed Head of Presidential Security.{{cite news|last=Boustany|first=Nora|title=Car crash kills Assad's son|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZdtQAAAAIBAJ&pg=1160,4759755&dq=bassel+assad&hl=en|accessdate=24 March 2013|newspaper=The Daily Gazette|date=22 January 1994}}{{cite journal|last=Edwards|first=Alex|title=Understanding Dictators|journal=The Majalla|date=July–August 2012|volume=1574|pages=32–37|url=http://www.majalla.com/eng/print-edition-pdf/al-majalla-issue-1574.pdf|accessdate=4 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730044241/http://www.majalla.com/eng/print-edition-pdf/al-majalla-issue-1574.pdf|archivedate=30 July 2013|df=dmy-all}} In addition, he launched the Syrian Computer Society in 1989, which would later be headed by Bashar.{{cite journal|last=Alterman|first=Jon B.|title=New Media New Politics?|journal=The Washington Institute|year=1998|volume=48|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/PolicyPaper48.pdf|accessdate=7 April 2013|archive-date=13 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513133813/http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/PolicyPaper48.pdf|url-status=dead}}

Originally Assad's uncle, Rifaat al-Assad, was Hafez's chosen successor; but Rifaat attempted to usurp power from Hafez while the latter was in a coma in 1984. This led to Rifaat's exile in Europe. Following the incident, Bassel was groomed to succeed his father.{{cite journal|last=Brownlee|first=Jason|title=The Heir Apparency of Gamal Mubarak|journal=Arab Studies Journal|date=Fall 2007|pages=36–56|url=https://webspace.utexas.edu/jmb334/www/documents/article.ASJ.2008.pdf|accessdate=2 March 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404150833/https://webspace.utexas.edu/jmb334/www/documents/article.ASJ.2008.pdf|archivedate=4 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}{{cite book|last=Hemmer|first=Christopher|title=Syria Under Bashar Asad: Clinging To His Roots?|date=23 February 2004|publisher=CPC|url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cpc-pubs/know_thy_enemy/hemmer.pdf|access-date=13 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005215516/http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cpc-pubs/know_thy_enemy/hemmer.pdf|archive-date=5 October 2018|url-status=dead}} Hafez's efforts to make Bassel the next president of Syria intensified in the early 1990s;{{cite journal|last=Ghadbian|first=Najib|title=The New Asad: Dynamics of Continuity and Change in Syria|journal=Middle East Journal|date=Autumn 2001|volume=55|issue=4|url=https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-New-Asad%3A-Dynamics-of-Continuity-and-Change-in-Ghadbian/8af41828065f0992b88868486e7ded5ab0d681d7|archive-date=12 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212184217/https://offiziere.ch/wp-content/uploads/The-New-Assad.pdf|pages=624–641}} after Hafez's election victory in 1991 in an election where Hafez was the only candidate, the president was publicly referred to as "Abu Basil" (Father of Bassel).{{cite journal|last=Cook|first=Steven A.|title=On the Road: In Asad's Damascus|journal=Middle East Quarterly|date=December 1996|pages=39–43|url=http://www.meforum.org/414/on-the-road-in-asads-damascus|accessdate=24 March 2013}} Bassel was also introduced to European and Arab leaders; he was a close friend of the children of King Hussein of Jordan, especially Haya bint Hussein who also enjoyed equestrianism,{{cite web |url=http://www.syrianhistory.com/en/photos/5771 |title=Basel al-Assad with Princess Haya of Jordan in an equestrian tournament - 1993 |website=Syrian History }} and had been also introduced to King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.

Assad had a significant role in Lebanese affairs, and was known to Lebanese leaders of all sects.{{Cite web |title=Power Points Defining the Syria-Hezbollah Relationship |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2019/03/power-points-defining-the-syria-hezbollah-relationship?lang=en¢er=middle-east |first=Mohanad|last=Hage Ali|date=29 March 2019|website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |language=en}} He organised a highly publicised anti-corruption campaign within the government and frequently appeared in full military uniform at official receptions to signal the government's commitment to the armed forces.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/22/world/assad-s-son-killed-in-an-auto-crash.html|title=Assad's Son Killed in Auto Crash|first=William E.|last=Schmidt|newspaper=New York Times|date=22 January 1994|accessdate=27 August 2013}}

File:Basil al-Assad.jpg

Aside from his native Arabic, Bassel was said to be fluent in French and Russian. According to leaked United States diplomatic cables, he had a relationship with a Lebanese woman, Siham Asseily,{{cite web |title=Biography; from wiki (Gebran Tueni) ref for 'His second spouse was Siham Asseily' |url=http://web.naharnet.com/biography.asp |publisher=Naharnet |accessdate=10 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607005800/http://web.naharnet.com/biography.asp |archivedate=7 June 2012 |df=dmy }} who later married Lebanese journalist and deputy Gebran Tueni.{{Cite web |date=2012-06-07 |title=Gebran Tueni Biography |url=http://web.naharnet.com/biography.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607005800/http://web.naharnet.com/biography.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-06-07 |access-date=2024-10-29 }}

On 21 January 1994, Bassel was driving his luxury Mercedes at a high speed (author Paul Theroux reports Bassel was driving at {{convert|240|kph|sp=us}} through fog to Damascus International Airport for a privately chartered flight to Frankfurt, Germany, on his way to a ski vacation in the Alps in the early hours of the morning).{{cite book|title=The Pillars of Hercules, page 416|first=Paul|last=Theroux|author-link=Paul Theroux|isbn=978-0-14-025314-6|year=1996|publisher=Penguin books }}{{cite journal|last=Bell|first=Don|title=Shadowland|journal=National Geographic|date=November 2009|url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2009/11/syria/belt-text|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027041614/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2009/11/syria/belt-text|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 October 2009|accessdate=9 March 2013}}{{cite news|title=Basil Assad killed in car crash|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S7tSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6678,2406747&dq=bassel+assad&hl=en |newspaper=The Press Courier|date=21 January 1994|accessdate=27 August 2013}} The car collided with a barrier and Bassel, not wearing a seatbelt, died instantly.{{cite news|last=Sipress |first=Alan|title=Assad's Son is Killed in a Car|url=http://articles.philly.com/1994-01-22/news/25823222_1_rifaat-assad-basil-assad-damascus-radio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830071308/http://articles.philly.com/1994-01-22/news/25823222_1_rifaat-assad-basil-assad-damascus-radio|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 August 2013|work=Inquirer|date=22 January 1994|accessdate=27 August 2013}} Hafez Makhlouf was with him and was hospitalized with injuries after the accident; a chauffeur in the back seat was unhurt.

Assad's body was taken to Al-Asad University Hospital and then buried in a mausoleum in Qardaha, where his father's body was also later buried.{{cite journal|title=Hafez Al Assad passes away |journal=Ain al Yaqeen |date=16 June 2000 |url=http://www.ainalyaqeen.com/issues/20000616/feat3en.htm |accessdate=9 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502132407/http://www.ainalyaqeen.com/issues/20000616/feat3en.htm |archivedate=2 May 2014 |df=dmy }} On 11 December 2024, his tomb was destroyed by rebel fighters following the overthrow of his brother Bashar in the Syrian civil war.{{Cite web |title=Syria rebels burn tomb of Bashar al-Assad's father Hafez |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wq01wde44o |access-date=2024-12-11 |date=2024-12-11 |website=BBC News|first1=Jaroslav |last1=Lukiv|first2=Seher|last2=Asaf}}

Bassel Assad's death led to his brother Bashar al-Assad, who was then undertaking postgraduate training in ophthalmology in London, assuming the mantle of president-in-waiting. Bashar became president following the death of his father on 10 June 2000 and would hold the post for 24 years, until the collapse of the Ba'athist regime in December 2024.{{cite journal|last=Zisser|first=Eyal|title=What does the future hold for Syria?|journal=MERIA|date=June 2006|volume=10|issue=2|url=http://www.naba.org.uk/CONTENT/news/Daily/MERIA/MERIA_60615.pdf|accessdate=14 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320190704/http://www.naba.org.uk/Content/news/Daily/MERIA/MERIA_60615.pdf|archive-date=20 March 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Nepotism, cronyism, and weakness in Arabdom|url=http://middleeast.org/archives/1998_07_09.htm|work=MER|accessdate=13 July 2012|date=7 September 1998}}

File:Syrian rebels in Aleppo, 30 November 2024.png

After his death, shops, schools and public offices in Syria closed, and the sale of alcohol was suspended in respect. He was elevated by the state into "the martyr of the country, the martyr of the nation and the symbol for its youth".{{cite news|last=Sipress|first=Alan|title=Syria Creates Cult Around Its President's Dead Son Bassel Assad|url=http://articles.philly.com/1996-11-08/news/25647185_1_syrians-basil-assad-president-hafez|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320190908/http://articles.philly.com/1996-11-08/news/25647185_1_syrians-basil-assad-president-hafez|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 March 2014|accessdate=13 July 2012|work=Inquirer|date=8 November 1996}}

A great number of squares and streets, a new international swimming complex, various hospitals, sporting clubs, and a military academy were named after him. The international airport in Latakia was formerly named Bassel Al-Assad International Airport. On 17 November 2020, a museum dedicated to him was inaugurated at Latakia Sports City.{{cite web |date=17 November 2020 |title=افتتاح متحف الشهيد الفارس الذهبي باسل الأسد في المدينة الرياضية باللاذقية |url=http://sana.sy/?p=1259768 |website=SANA |language=Arabic}}

Statues of Bassel were built in several Syrian cities; even after his death, he was often depicted on propaganda billboards with his father and brother. One such statue was erected in Chtaura, Lebanon during the Syrian occupation of Lebanon; it was dismantled and shipped back to Syria after the Syrian withdrawal in 2005.{{cite web |date=6 April 2016 |title=Bassel al-Assad in Lebanon |url=https://equestrianstatue.org/el-assad-bassel/ |website=Equestrian Statue}} Another prominent equestrian statue of Bassel in Aleppo{{cite web |url=https://equestrianstatue.org/al-assad-bassel/ |title=Bassel al-Assad in Syria |website=Equestrian Statue |date=6 April 2016 }} was toppled by rebels during the city's capture by opposition forces on 30 November 2024.{{cite news| title=Syrian rebels seize half of Aleppo in surprise offensive against Assad regime|first=William|last=Mata | via=MSN | date=16 December 2024 | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/syrian-rebels-seize-half-of-aleppo-in-surprise-offensive-against-assad-regime/ar-AA1v2bsQ |newspaper=Evening Standard}}

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• [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0137c87 The death of Bassel al Assad] BBC World Service Witness episode

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Category:1962 births

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Bassel al

Category:Children of presidents of Syria

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Category:Road incident deaths in Syria

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