Bassel al-Assad

Bassel al-Assad was the eldest son of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and the older brother of (later) President Bashar al-Assad. He was trained as a civil engineer and a military officer. He was expected to succeed his father as the president of Syria until he died in a car accident in 1994. He was known for his charisma, leadership skills, and equestrian achievements. He won several medals at regional tournaments and was nicknamed the Golden Knight by the Syrian media. He also launched the Syrian Computer Society in 1989 and was the head of presidential security. He was introduced to many Arab and European leaders and had close ties with the royal family of Jordan. He was popular among the Syrian people and his death caused a national mourning. His funeral was attended by thousands of people and many foreign dignitaries. He was buried in his hometown of Qardaha, where his father and brother were later buried as well. He is still regarded as a national hero and a symbol of modern Syria.