Bashar al-Assad

Bashar al-Assad has been the President of Syria since his father's death in 2000.  While their father had been grooming his older brother Basil as heir apparent, Basil's death in 1994 caused Bashar to become next in line.  Trained as an ophthalmologist rather than as a politician, Syrians hoped that Bashar would reform his father's policies; while his first months in office saw some reforms, these reforms have not proven lasting.

As the Arab Spring began in Tunisia and Egypt, this desire for reform helped foment the Syrian uprising. While other leaders in the region fled or resigned when faced with similar demands from their people, al-Assad has not only remained in power, but he has used the Syrian army to suppress his opposition, prompting many foreign governments and NGOs to accuse him of human rights abuses.


For more information, see http://bbc.in/nch8Oz