Hafez Bashar al-Assad

Hafez Bashar al-Assad (born 4 December 2001) is the eldest son of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad.

Hafez Bashar al-Assad
حافظ الاسد
Born (2001-12-04) 4 December 2001
Damascus, Syria
Education
Parents
Not to be confused with 18th President of Syria Hafez 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. "Asma al-Assad: A Rose in the Desert". Gawker. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  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. "Hafez Assad Jr., Syria's first child". United Press International. 9 December 2001. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  4. "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. "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. "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. 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. "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. "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. "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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