Bassam Abdel Majeed
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Bassam Abdel Majeed (Adyghe: Бэсим-Абдулмэджид, romanized: Bəsim-Abdulmədjid; Arabic: بسام عبد المجيد Basām 'Abd al-Majīd; born 1950) is a Syrian military officer, politician and diplomat of Circassian origin.[1]
Bassam Abdel Majeed | |
|---|---|
بسام عبد المجيد | |
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office 11 February 2006 – 23 April 2009 | |
| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Prime Minister | Mohammad Naji Al Otari |
| Preceded by | Ghazi Kanaan |
| Succeeded by | Said Mohammad Sammour |
| Ambassador to Belarus | |
| In office ? – 2019[citation needed] | |
| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Succeeded by | Farouk Taha[citation needed] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1950 (age 75–76) |
| Party | Ba'ath Party |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Major General |
Early life and education
Majeed is of Circassian origin,[2] and was born into a Sunni Muslim family in 1950 in Beer Ajam, a village in the Quneitra Governorate in southwestern Syria.[3] He attended Syria's Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970.[3]
Career
Majeed held several military and security posts.[3] He was director of the military police from 2003 to 2006.[2] He was appointed the interior minister of Syria on 11 February 2006,[2][4] succeeding Ghazi Kanaan.[5][6] When he was in office, Hezbollah commander Imad Mugniyeh was killed in Damascus in February 2008.[7] Majeed blamed Israel and described the attack as a "terrorist act".[8]
Majeed's term lasted until 23 April 2009 and he was replaced by Said Mohammad Sammour.[9] In October 2009, Majeed was appointed Syria's ambassador to Kuwait.[10]
Personal life
Majeed is married, and has two daughters and one son.[citation needed]