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Salah Ad-din BitarSyrian politician, former Prime Minister of Syria
Date of Birth: 01.01.1912
Country:  Syria |
Content:
- Salah al-Din al-Bitar: A Syrian Political Icon
- Disillusionment with Communism
- Involvement with the Ba'ath Party
- Diplomatic Career
- Premiership
- Arrest and Exile
- Death Sentence and Assassination
Salah al-Din al-Bitar: A Syrian Political Icon
Early Life and EducationSalah al-Din al-Bitar was born in Damascus, Syria, in 1912. He hailed from a devout Sunni Muslim family with great wealth derived from the grain trade. His education took him to Paris, where he studied at Sorbonne University from 1929 to 1934. During his time in France, Bitar was deeply influenced by socialist ideologies.
Disillusionment with Communism
However, his initial enthusiasm for communism waned after the French Communist Party joined the French government in 1936. Bitar was disillusioned by the moderate stance of the French Communists on colonial issues. This experience led him to question leftist ideologies.
Involvement with the Ba'ath Party
In 1945, Bitar became a member of the Ba'ath Arab Socialist Party. He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming its General Secretary at the first party congress in 1947. Bitar was a key figure in the party's ideology, advocating for Arab unification and socialism.
Diplomatic Career
From 1956 to 1958, Bitar served as Syria's Foreign Minister. He was a vocal proponent of unification with Egypt, leading to the establishment of the United Arab Republic (UAR). However, Bitar grew disillusioned with the UAR and resigned in 1959.
Premiership
Bitar returned to prominence after the 1963 Syrian coup. He became Prime Minister of a coalition government, but was later replaced by Amin al-Hafiz. After a period of unrest in Hama, Bitar was appointed Prime Minister again in 1964.
Arrest and Exile
Bitar's second term as Prime Minister was cut short by a military coup led by General Salah Jadid in 1966. Bitar was arrested and detained for several months. In August 1966, he escaped custody and fled to Beirut.
Death Sentence and Assassination
In 1969, Bitar was sentenced to death in absentia by a special military court in Syria. Despite being pardoned by President Hafez al-Assad in 1978, Bitar and Assad remained estranged. Bitar launched an information campaign against the Syrian government from his exile. On July 21, 1980, Bitar was assassinated in Paris, shot twice in the back as he was exiting an elevator. He was later buried in Baghdad.
