Bushra al-Assad: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:F-assad.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Assad family]], Bushra on the right]] |
[[Image:F-assad.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Assad family]], Bushra on the right]] |
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'''Bushra al-Assad''' (born October 1960) is the first child and only daughter of [[Hafez al-Assad]], who was the president of [[Syria]] from 1971 to 2000. She is the sister of current Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]]. She |
'''Bushra al-Assad''' (born October 1960) is the first child and only daughter of [[Hafez al-Assad]], who was the president of [[Syria]] from 1971 to 2000. She is the sister of current Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]]. She was married to [[Assef Shawqat]], the deputy chief of staff of the Syrian Armed Forces and former head of the Syrian Military Intelligence, who was killed by rebels on 18 July, 2012.. |
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Bushra is reported to have enjoyed a close relationship with her father Hafez al-Assad. It is reported that she helped convince her father that jailing her uncle, [[Rifaat al-Assad]], after his failed 1984 coup attempt would disgrace the family.<ref name="mideastmonitor" /> |
Bushra is reported to have enjoyed a close relationship with her father Hafez al-Assad. It is reported that she helped convince her father that jailing her uncle, [[Rifaat al-Assad]], after his failed 1984 coup attempt would disgrace the family.<ref name="mideastmonitor" /> |
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Revision as of 11:21, 18 July 2012
Bushra al-Assad (born October 1960) is the first child and only daughter of Hafez al-Assad, who was the president of Syria from 1971 to 2000. She is the sister of current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. She was married to Assef Shawqat, the deputy chief of staff of the Syrian Armed Forces and former head of the Syrian Military Intelligence, who was killed by rebels on 18 July, 2012..
Bushra is reported to have enjoyed a close relationship with her father Hafez al-Assad. It is reported that she helped convince her father that jailing her uncle, Rifaat al-Assad, after his failed 1984 coup attempt would disgrace the family.[1]
Bushra received her degree in pharmacy in 1982 from Damascus University. At university Bushra befriended Bouthaina Shaaban who is now member of the Syrian Cabinet.[1][2] Some sources report that it was Shaaban who introduced Bushra to Shawkat, an army officer 10 years her senior and reportedly married with a reputation for womanizing.[1] Despite family opposition, Bushra married Shawkat in early 1995.
Since the death of her brother Bassel al-Assad in 1994, Bushra has been credited with increasing influence. She is reported to have played a major role in guiding the development of Syria's pharmaceutical industry. Bushra is also reported to have worked for her husband to gain acceptance and recognition. In the late 1990s Shawkat assumed key security roles within Syria's military and intelligence apparatus.[1][3]
Tensions between Bushra and her sister-in-law and Syria's first lady Asma al-Assad have been reported. Since Asma's marriage to the Syrian president in 2000, Asma has defied social conventions by frequently appearing in public and in the media. It is reported that Bushra has disapproved of Asma taking such a public role.[1]