Rashad Barmada

Rashad Barmada was a prominent Syrian politician who played a key role in the country's political affairs between the 1940s and early 1960s. He was born in 1913 in Aleppo to a notable and wealthy family. He studied law at Damascus University and graduated in 1937. He established a legal practice in Aleppo and became involved in politics. He co-founded the People's Party in 1947, a party that advocated for democracy, decentralization, and the union of Syria and Iraq. He was elected as a member of the Syrian Parliament for three terms (1947, 1954 and 1961). He held various ministerial positions, including minister of interior, minister of defense, minister of education, and deputy prime minister. He was known for his opposition to military coups and his support for civilian rule. He also participated in the negotiations for the United Arab Republic, a short-lived union between Syria and Egypt in 1958. He resigned from his post as minister of education in 1963 after the Ba'athist coup that ended the UAR. He retired from politics and lived a quiet life until his death in 1988 in Damascus. He was married to Fatima Barmada and had six children. He was respected and admired by many Syrians for his integrity, patriotism, and vision.