Hafez al-Assad
حافظ الأسد
Born (2001-12-04) 4 December 2001
Damascus, Syria
Education
Parents

Hafez Bashar al-Assad (Arabic: حافظ بشار الأسد; born 4 December 2001) is the eldest son of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad.

Personal life

Assad was born in Damascus on 4 December 2001 and also, was raised there.[1][2][3] He was named after his grandfather, former President of Syria Hafez al-Assad.[4][3] In his youth, he attended a Montessori school alongside his sister, Zein, and brother, Karim.[1][5] They also attended a language school in the Baramkeh district of Damascus.[6]

Assad received media attention in 2013 when a Facebook account attributed to him posted a criticism of the U.S. military in the wake of the Ghouta chemical attack.[5] However, both Syrian opposition figures and outside media sources questioned whether the since-deleted account was authentic.[7][8]

In 2020, Assad was placed under sanction by the U.S. Department of State in connection with previous sanctions targeting his father's regime.[2][9] As a result, he is not allowed to travel to or own assets in the United States.[4]

Assad has been considered as a potential successor to his father.[10][11][12]

Assad is fluent in English.[13][14] He also speaks Russian.[15]

Mathematics competitions

Assad has described mathematics to the media as his "childhood passion."[16] He participated in the International Mathematical Olympiad, representing Syria, from 2016 to 2018.[17]

2016 International Mathematical Olympiad (Hong Kong)

In 2016, he placed 355th out of 602 overall and 4th out of 6 on the Syrian team.[17]

2017 International Mathematical Olympiad (Rio de Janeiro)

In 2017, he placed 528th out of 615 overall and 6th out of 6 on the Syrian team.[18]

2018 International Mathematical Olympiad (Cluj-Napoca)

In 2018, he placed 486th out of 594 overall and 6th out of 6 on the Syrian team.[17]

Assad's participation in the International Mathematical Olympiad has been criticized by some outside observers, viewing his inclusion on the Syrian team as the result of nepotism.[19] However, this has been explicitly denied by a representative of the Syrian government, claiming that Assad qualified in fair competition for a space on the team.[14]

Education

According to Syrian media sources, Assad received his secondary education certificate with distinction in 2018.[20]

In 2016, it was announced that Assad would complete his higher education in Russia.[21] Before he matriculated to Moscow State University, he studied for a period of time at the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology in Damascus.[20] In 2023, Assad graduated with a master's degree in mathematics from the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of Moscow State University with honors.[10][22][23] He wrote his thesis on the topic of number theory.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 "Asma al-Assad: A Rose in the Desert". Gawker. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Syria Designations; Syria-related Designations and Designation Removal". U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Hafez Assad Jr., Syria's first child". United Press International. 9 December 2001. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 "US slaps sanctions on Bashar al-Assad's 18-year-old son Hafez in latest bid to squeeze regime". France24. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Facebook Post Said to Be by Assad's Son Dares Americans to Attack". The New York Times. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Stephen Starr (28 September 2019). "The quiet tragedy of a teenage boy in Damascus". The Arab Weekly. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  7. ↑ El-Shenawi, Eman (31 August 2013). "Hoax or not, 'Assad son' Facebook outburst brews media storm". Al Arabiya News. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  8. ↑ Berman, Taylor (29 August 2013). "Did Assad's Son Write a Facebook Post Daring Americans to Attack?". Gawker. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Wintour, Patrick (29 July 2020). "US imposes sanctions on son of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Syria cracked down on Wagner after mutiny in Russia: Report". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "Is the West Waiting for Hafez Bashar al-Assad to Become President?". The Syrian Observer. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Hafez, el hijo 'matemático' de Asad se prepara para reinar en la república siria". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 19 February 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "No Rio, filho de ditador sírio compete na Olimpíada de Matemática". O Globo (in Portuguese). 17 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  14. 1 2 Lichterbeck, Philipp (23 July 2017). "Verrechnet - der Sohn des Diktators bei der Mathe-Olympiade". Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "Assad's children 'learn languages, practise hobbies'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  16. ↑ "Son of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad wants 'normal' treatment at maths competition in Romania". The Straits Times. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 "Hafez Alassad". International Mathematical Olympiad. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Hafez Al-Assad". International Mathematical Olympiad. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Assad's Son, Math Competitions, and Solving the Syrian Nepotism Equation". Syria Justice and Accountability Centre. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  20. 1 2 "السيدة الاولى أسماء الأسد تحضر حفل التخرج في موسكو.. حافظ بشار الأسد يحصل على الشهادة الحمراء في الرياضيات [First lady Asma al-Assad attends graduation ceremony in Moscow. Hafez Bashar al-Assad receives honors diploma in mathematics]". Al-Watan (in Arabic). Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "Сын Башара Асада с отличием окончил МГУ [Son of Bashar Assad graduated MSU with honors]". RBK (in Russian). 29 June 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "Bashar Assad's son graduates with honors from Moscow State University — newspaper". TASS. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  23. 1 2 "СМИ: старший сын Асада окончил магистратуру МГУ с красным дипломом [Media: Eldest son of Assad graduated MSU master's program with honors]". RIA Novosti (in Russian). 29 June 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
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