Basil al-Assad
Encyclopedia
Bassel al-Assad (March 23, 1962 – January 21, 1994) was a son of Syria
n President Hafez al-Assad
(Arabic: حافظ الأسد).
. He was chief of presidential security while running 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. He also had a reputation for being an aficionado of fast cars.
In January 1994, driving his own Mercedes
at high speed through fog
to Damascus International Airport
in the early hours of the morning, Basil is said to have collided with a motorway roundabout
, and he died instantly. Opponents of the Syrian regime and associated secret services have speculated that Basil's death might have been a murder cover-up, but this has not been suggested by the Syrian government, and no credible evidence in support of such a theory has, so far as is known, been presented elsewhere.
Basil's death led to his lesser-known brother Bashar al-Assad
, then undertaking sub-speciality training in ophthalmology
in London
, assuming the mantle of President-in-waiting. Bashar became President following the death of Hafez on June 10, 2000.
The state-run Syrian media sometimes refers to Basil as "Basil the Martyr", and numerous squares and streets have been named after him. His statue is found in several Syrian cities, and even after his death he is often pictured at billboards with his father and brother. He is buried in Qardaha
, his father's village of birth, in a large mausoleum
, where Hafez al-Assad was laid to rest beside him in 2000.
Basil was a popular sportsman and horse riding champion, winning several tournaments in shooting and equestrian sports, including the gold medal of the Latakia Mediterranean Games in 1987
. The International Fair Play Committee
awarded him the Diploma of Attitude in 1991.
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n President Hafez al-Assad
Hafez al-Assad
Hafez ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman al-Assad or more commonly Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule consolidated the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups, such as Operation Wappen in 1957 conducted by the Eisenhower administration and...
(Arabic: حافظ الأسد).
Biography
From a young age, Basil was groomed to fill the role of President by his father, Hafez al-AssadHafez al-Assad
Hafez ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman al-Assad or more commonly Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule consolidated the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups, such as Operation Wappen in 1957 conducted by the Eisenhower administration and...
. He was chief of presidential security while running 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. He also had a reputation for being an aficionado of fast cars.
In January 1994, driving his own Mercedes
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
at high speed through fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
to Damascus International Airport
Damascus International Airport
Damascus International Airport is a public airport located in Damascus, the capital of Syria. Officially opened in the mid 1970s, DAM is Syria's busiest international airport. The airport is experiencing significant annual passenger growth rates...
in the early hours of the morning, Basil is said to have collided with a motorway roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
, and he died instantly. Opponents of the Syrian regime and associated secret services have speculated that Basil's death might have been a murder cover-up, but this has not been suggested by the Syrian government, and no credible evidence in support of such a theory has, so far as is known, been presented elsewhere.
Basil's death led to his lesser-known brother Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
, then undertaking sub-speciality training in ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, assuming the mantle of President-in-waiting. Bashar became President following the death of Hafez on June 10, 2000.
The state-run Syrian media sometimes refers to Basil as "Basil the Martyr", and numerous squares and streets have been named after him. His statue is found in several Syrian cities, and even after his death he is often pictured at billboards with his father and brother. He is buried in Qardaha
Qardaha
Qardaha is a village in northwestern Syria, in the mountains overlooking the coastal town of Latakia.It is mainly an Alawite town and the traditional home of the Assad family, that has ruled Syria since 1970. During the reign of Hafez al-Assad 1970-2000 the government poured massive investments...
, his father's village of birth, in a large mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
, where Hafez al-Assad was laid to rest beside him in 2000.
Basil was a popular sportsman and horse riding champion, winning several tournaments in shooting and equestrian sports, including the gold medal of the Latakia Mediterranean Games in 1987
1987 Mediterranean Games
The 10th edition of the Mediterranean Games was held in Latakia, Syria from the 11th to the 25th of September 1987. Eighteen nations competed in 19 different sporting events.-Medal table:-External link and reference:* -See also:...
. The International Fair Play Committee
International Fair Play Committee
The International Fair Play Committee , abbreviated as the CIFP, is a not for profit international non-governmental organisation which serves to foster sportsmanship in international competition. It presents awards annually at the World Fair Play Awards to recognise acts of fair play carried out by...
awarded him the Diploma of Attitude in 1991.