Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad was born on September 11, 1965, in Damascus. He is the child of President Hafez Assad whom he succeeded in July of 2000.
Assad studied ophthamology in Damascus and London, originally intending to become an eye doctor. His older brother Basil was regarded as the successor of his father, President Hafez al-Assad. However, Basil died in a car accident in 1994, leaving Bashar to eventually take over the presidency after the death of his father in June 2000. Bashar al-Assad completed his military training during a six-year political apprenticeship. He was quickly introduced to the important Arab and foreign leaders and prepared for a political career.
When Assad became president he began a term of gradual reform. In November of 2000 he released 600 political prisoners, and in November of the following year he granted amnesty to over 100 dissidents. Assad has eased restrictions on the media, especially regarding political debate and criticism of the government. He led an anti-corruption campaign and has continuously supported the modernization of Syria. Currently he is President and Chairman of the Syrian Computer Society, which promotes the growth and spread of Information Technology throughout Syria.