Ghazi Kanaan
Encyclopedia
Ghazi Kanaan was Syria
's Interior Minister
from 2004 to 2005, and long-time head of Syria's security apparatus in Lebanon
. His violent death during an investigation into the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri drew international attention.
, the home town of former Syrian president Hafiz al-Asad. This region, centered on the coastal town of Lattakia, is in heartland Syria's Alawite
minority, of which both men were part. He entered the military and commanded a tank battalion against Israel
i forces in the 1973 October War.
As a result of his success and extreme intelligence, he advanced quickly through the ranks of the military, and was given the post of director of intelligence in of Central Syria (Homs
). In 1982, after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon
, parts of which were already under Syrian military domination, he was assigned to head the Syrian intelligence there. He remained the head of Syrian security in the country for 20 years, effectively ruling his Lebanese proxies through a web of agents and loyalist bureaucrats, backed by the Syrian military presence. During this time, he gained a decisive Syrian influence over Lebanese affairs, and gradually subdued the warring Lebanese militias through a combination of diplomacy, bribery and force. After Israel
's withdrawal from its occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000, Kanaan extended Syria's influence there, and backed the Hezbollah movement's takeover of the area.
After being an early backer of Syrian president Bashar al-Asad as a successor to his father, Kanaan was in 2002 summoned back to Damascus to become the head of Syria's political intelligence, which was viewd by the eyes of many as a "demotion". He was succeeded in Lebanon by Rustum Ghazali
. In 2004, after a string of bombings targeting leading Hamas
members given sanctuary in Syria, claimed by Syria to have been the work of Israeli intelligence, Kanaan was assigned by president Assad to the cabinet post of interior minister, another "demotion" where he could be fired anytime as by a cabinet reshuffle. On the internal Syrian political scene, Kanaan was considered close to the president, although at the same time part of the "old guard" of Syrian politics.
On June 30th 2005, the United States
, which had been pressuring Syria
over the Hariri bombing and to end Syrian occupation, declared that it would freeze all assets belonging to Kanaan and Ghazali, due to their involvement with the occupation of Lebanon, and also due to suspicions of "corrupt activities".
Kanaan died in his office, by a gunshot through the mouth, in Damascus on October 12, 2005. After a one-day examination, Syrian authorities closed the case, Prosecutor Muhammad al-Luaji stating:
"Examination of the body and fingerprints as well as testimony from employees, including senior aide General Walid Abaza, indicated that it was a suicide by gunshot"
It has been suggested he was in fact murdered by the Syrian government, and various theories explaining the possible motives for this have been put forth. Lebanese Druze
leader Walid Jumblatt
, who had been variously allied and hostile to Kanaan during his stay in Lebanon, commented by saying that if Ghazi Kanaan was in fact linked to the Hariri assassination, then he was a "brave man" who "did well, if I may say, by committing suicide".
Kanaan was interviewed in September 2005 by a United Nations
team led by Detlev Mehlis
, as a "witness", probing the February 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Kanaan however denied any involvement in the assassination, for example in the phone interview he gave to the Lebanese broadcasting station Voice of Lebanon on the day of his death. In that interview he said "I think this is the last statement I might give".
-based leader of the banned Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood
, told Al Jazeera
that Kanaan, "indicated that he felt in danger, and this supports rumors that there has been a deal in which the Syrian regime might sacrifice some of its heads for saving the regime."
It has been reported that Kanaan opposed Assad's decision in 2004 to extend the term of the pro-Syrian Lebanese President Émile Lahoud
, siding with then-prime minister Rafik al-Hariri whom he is reported to have had a good relationship with. The term extension provoked the creation of a Lebanese nationalists' camp, whose anti-Syrian protests gained momentum after the murder of al-Hariri in 2005. It was seen as a strategic blunder by many supporters of the Syrian occupation, and is believed to have weakened the president's position. It has been suggested that Kanaan may have been part of such opposition to Assad's rule. Most sources however indicate that he kept the president's trust, and his appointment to interior minister after allegedly having opposed the term extension in 2004 seems to bolster this claim.
Zvi Bar'el in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz has presented a theory involving Bashar al-Assad's brother Maher
and other conspirators within the regime wanting to get rid of Kanaan, whom they viewed as too powerful and too close to the president. This could also involve a plot to eventually get rid of Bashar himself, possibly connected to Hafez al-Assad's exiled brother Rifaat al-Assad
. While this is only speculation, the article (linked below) presumes that the Mehlis report
will not only shed light on the Hariri killing, but also on the internal intrigues of the Syrian ruling elite.
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....
's Interior Minister
Interior minister
An interior ministry is a government ministry typically responsible for policing, national security, and immigration matters. The ministry is often headed by a minister of the interior or minister of home affairs...
from 2004 to 2005, and long-time head of Syria's security apparatus in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. His violent death during an investigation into the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri drew international attention.
Background
Ghazi Kanaan was born in 1942 in Bhamra, near QardahaQardaha
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...
, the home town of former Syrian president Hafiz al-Asad. This region, centered on the coastal town of Lattakia, is in heartland Syria's Alawite
Alawite
The Alawis, also known as Alawites, Nusayris and Ansaris are a prominent mystical and syncretic religious group centred in Syria who are a branch of Shia Islam.-Etymology:...
minority, of which both men were part. He entered the military and commanded a tank battalion against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i forces in the 1973 October War.
As a result of his success and extreme intelligence, he advanced quickly through the ranks of the military, and was given the post of director of intelligence in of Central Syria (Homs
Homs
Homs , previously known as Emesa , is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus...
). In 1982, after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, parts of which were already under Syrian military domination, he was assigned to head the Syrian intelligence there. He remained the head of Syrian security in the country for 20 years, effectively ruling his Lebanese proxies through a web of agents and loyalist bureaucrats, backed by the Syrian military presence. During this time, he gained a decisive Syrian influence over Lebanese affairs, and gradually subdued the warring Lebanese militias through a combination of diplomacy, bribery and force. After Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's withdrawal from its occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000, Kanaan extended Syria's influence there, and backed the Hezbollah movement's takeover of the area.
After being an early backer of Syrian president Bashar al-Asad as a successor to his father, Kanaan was in 2002 summoned back to Damascus to become the head of Syria's political intelligence, which was viewd by the eyes of many as a "demotion". He was succeeded in Lebanon by Rustum Ghazali
Rustum Ghazali
Rustum Ghazali is a Syrian politician and military officer.Born in 1953.Ghazali was appointed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2002 to succeed Gen. Ghazi Kanaan as head of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon...
. In 2004, after a string of bombings targeting leading Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
members given sanctuary in Syria, claimed by Syria to have been the work of Israeli intelligence, Kanaan was assigned by president Assad to the cabinet post of interior minister, another "demotion" where he could be fired anytime as by a cabinet reshuffle. On the internal Syrian political scene, Kanaan was considered close to the president, although at the same time part of the "old guard" of Syrian politics.
On June 30th 2005, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which had been pressuring Syria
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....
over the Hariri bombing and to end Syrian occupation, declared that it would freeze all assets belonging to Kanaan and Ghazali, due to their involvement with the occupation of Lebanon, and also due to suspicions of "corrupt activities".
Death in October 2005
(Citations missing)Kanaan died in his office, by a gunshot through the mouth, in Damascus on October 12, 2005. After a one-day examination, Syrian authorities closed the case, Prosecutor Muhammad al-Luaji stating:
"Examination of the body and fingerprints as well as testimony from employees, including senior aide General Walid Abaza, indicated that it was a suicide by gunshot"
It has been suggested he was in fact murdered by the Syrian government, and various theories explaining the possible motives for this have been put forth. Lebanese Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
leader Walid Jumblatt
Walid Jumblatt
Walid Jumblatt is a Lebanese politician and the current leader of the Progressive Socialist Party . He is the most prominent leader of Lebanon's Druze community.-Family:...
, who had been variously allied and hostile to Kanaan during his stay in Lebanon, commented by saying that if Ghazi Kanaan was in fact linked to the Hariri assassination, then he was a "brave man" who "did well, if I may say, by committing suicide".
Kanaan was interviewed in September 2005 by a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
team led by Detlev Mehlis
Detlev Mehlis
Detlev Mehlis is currently the Senior Public Prosecutor in the Office of the Attorney General in Berlin. He has 30 years of prosecutorial experience and has led numerous investigations into serious, complex transnational crimes...
, as a "witness", probing the February 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Kanaan however denied any involvement in the assassination, for example in the phone interview he gave to the Lebanese broadcasting station Voice of Lebanon on the day of his death. In that interview he said "I think this is the last statement I might give".
Theories on Kanaan's death and possible involvement in the Hariri bombing
Ali Sadr el-Din Bayanouni, the LondonLondon
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...
-based leader of the banned Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
, told Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
that Kanaan, "indicated that he felt in danger, and this supports rumors that there has been a deal in which the Syrian regime might sacrifice some of its heads for saving the regime."
It has been reported that Kanaan opposed Assad's decision in 2004 to extend the term of the pro-Syrian Lebanese President Émile Lahoud
Émile Lahoud
General Émile Jamil Lahoud is a former President of Lebanon. Lahoud is a Maronite-Catholic, as is required for the Lebanese presidency. Under Lebanon's unwritten constitutional agreement, the National Pact, the presidency is earmarked for Maronite_Catholic, the parliament speaker's post for a Shia...
, siding with then-prime minister Rafik al-Hariri whom he is reported to have had a good relationship with. The term extension provoked the creation of a Lebanese nationalists' camp, whose anti-Syrian protests gained momentum after the murder of al-Hariri in 2005. It was seen as a strategic blunder by many supporters of the Syrian occupation, and is believed to have weakened the president's position. It has been suggested that Kanaan may have been part of such opposition to Assad's rule. Most sources however indicate that he kept the president's trust, and his appointment to interior minister after allegedly having opposed the term extension in 2004 seems to bolster this claim.
Zvi Bar'el in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz has presented a theory involving Bashar al-Assad's brother Maher
Maher al-Assad
Maher al-Assad is the brother of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the commander of the Republican Guard and the army's elite Fourth Armored Division, which together with Syria's secret police form the core of the country's security forces...
and other conspirators within the regime wanting to get rid of Kanaan, whom they viewed as too powerful and too close to the president. This could also involve a plot to eventually get rid of Bashar himself, possibly connected to Hafez al-Assad's exiled brother Rifaat al-Assad
Rifaat al-Assad
Rifaat al-Assad is the younger brother of the former President of Syria, Hafez al-Assad, and the uncle of the current President Bashar al-Assad, all of whom come from the minority Alawite Muslim sect. He was born in the village of Qardaha, near Lattakia in western Syria. He is perhaps best known...
. While this is only speculation, the article (linked below) presumes that the Mehlis report
Mehlis report
The Mehlis Report is the result of the United Nations' investigation into the 14 February 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. The investigation was launched in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1595 and headed by the German judge, Detlev Mehlis...
will not only shed light on the Hariri killing, but also on the internal intrigues of the Syrian ruling elite.
External links
- Syrian Arab News Agency Official communique on Kanaans death
- 'Syria: Minister commits suicide', CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
- Syrian minister 'commits suicide', BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
- Reuters On Kanaan's death
- BBC On Syrian investigation and burial
- Speculations about Kanaan's death by "Don Quixote" on the Center for Democracy in Lebanon website - linked 9 August 2006