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[[File:President Syria Bashar al Assad.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Bashar al-Assad]]

[[File:President Syria Bashar al Assad.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Bashar al-Assad]]

'''Bashar al-Assad''' is the current president of [[Syria]]. As a member of the [[Ba'ath Party]] of Syria, he is a [[socialist]] [[dictator]], though in his reign some limited [[free market]] reforms were implemented. In 2011, the [[Arab Spring]] led to widespread protests in his country, which turned into the [[Syrian Civil War]], in which more than 160,000 deaths have taken place.<ref>http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/syrian-civil-war-casualties-tops-160-000.html</ref>

'''Bashar al-Assad''' is the current president of [[Syria]]. As a member of the [[Ba'ath Party]] of Syria though in his reign some limited [[free market]] reforms were implemented. In 2011, the [[Arab Spring]] led to widespread protests in his country, which turned into the [[Syrian Civil War]], in which more than 160,000 deaths have taken place.<ref>http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/syrian-civil-war-casualties-tops-160-000.html</ref>

==Politics==

==Politics==

The [[Christians in Syria]] enjoy the tolerance of the secular government. But since the [[Syrian Civil War]] they are afraid to lose it, if the jihadist opposition will come in power.

The [[Christians in Syria]] enjoy the tolerance of the secular government. But since the [[Syrian Civil War]] they are afraid to lose it, if the jihadist opposition will come in power.

Under al-Assad, Syria maintains a close alliance with theocratic [[Iran]], despite his more secular form of governance. Like his father [[Hafez al-Assad]], his relation with [[Saddam Hussein]]'s [[Iraq]] was sour and tense, and after [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] he established good relations with the new Iraqi government.

Under al-Assad, Syria maintains a close alliance with theocratic [[Iran]], despite his more secular form of governance. Like his father [[Hafez al-Assad]], his relation with [[Saddam Hussein]]'s [[Iraq]] was sour and tense, and after [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] he established good relations with the new Iraqi government.

Al-Assad is very [[anti-American]]. Neither [[George W. Bush]] nor [[Barack Hussein Obama]] have met with him and both administrations have accused him, rightfully, of harboring [[terrorist]] organizations such as [[Hamas]] (which had its headquarters in [[Damascus]]) and [[Hezbollah]]. He is also hostile to [[Israel]] and [[Zionism]] and refuses to recognize the country's right to exist.

Al-Assad is very [[anti-American]]. Neither [[George W. Bush]] nor [[Barack Hussein Obama]] have met with him and both administrations have accused him, rightfully, of harboring [[terrorist]] organizations such as [[Hamas]] (which had its headquarters in [[Damascus]]) and [[Hezbollah]]. He is also hostile to [[Israel]] and [[Zionism]] and refuses to recognize the country's right to exist. {{fact}}

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

[[Category:Current Heads of State]]

[[Category:Current Heads of State]]

[[Category:Presidents of Syria]]

[[Category:Presidents of Syria]]

[[Category:Shiites]]

[[Category:Shiites]]