| − | '''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 100,000 deaths have taken place.<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/un-more-100000-now-dead-syrias-civil-war</ref> | + | '''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 150,000 deaths have taken place.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/01/us-syria-crisis-toll-idUSBREA300YX20140401</ref> |
| | 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. |