Abdul Halim Khaddam
Encyclopedia
Abdul Halim Khaddam is a Syria
n politician who was Vice President of Syria from 1984 to 2005.
, Syria
. Abdul Halim was one of the few Sunni Muslims to make it to the top of the Alawite
-dominated Syrian leadership. He was long known as a loyalist of Hafez al-Assad
, and held a strong position within the Syrian government. In 1969, Khaddam had a major role in sentencing prominent Syrian politicians to death in absentia
, among them Amin al-Hafiz, Salah ad-Din al-Bitar, Nasim Al Safarjalani
, Khaled Al Hakim and others, through a special military court headed by later Syrian Defence Minister, Mustafa Tlass
, and Abdul Halim Khaddam, as prosecutor. He later served as foreign minister of Syria from 1970 to 1984 and as Vice President of Syria from 1984 to 2005. He was interim President of Syria from June 10 to July 17, 2000, between the death of Hafez and the election of his son (the election was symbolic in nature as there was only one candidate and it somewhat represented an approval rating where the ba'ath claimed 97% of the votes), Bashar al-Assad
, as the new President. At the time, there were rumours in Damascus
that Khaddam would try to seize power.
In an interview with Al Arabiya
network from Paris, France, on December 30, 2005 Khaddam denounced Assad's many "political blunders" in dealing with Lebanon
. He especially attacked Rustum Ghazali
, former head of Syrian operations in Lebanon, but defended his predecessor Ghazi Kanaan
- Syria's Interior Minister, who is believed to have either committed suicide or been assassinated in October 2005. Khaddam also said that former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri, to whom Khaddam was considered close, "received many threats" from Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. The assassination of al-Hariri in February 2005 triggered the massive protests
that eventually ended the 30-year long Syrian military presence in Lebanon.
headed by Detlev Mehlis
investigating the al-Hariri murder said it had asked the Syrian authorities to question Bashar al-Assad
and Syria's Foreign Minister Faruq al-Sharaa
. According to the Lebanese Daily Star
newspaper, the Commission interviewed Khaddam on January 5, 2006.
On 14 January Khaddam announced that he was forming a "government in exile", predicting the end of al-Assad's government by the end of 2006. His accusations against al-Assad and his inner circle regarding the al-Hariri murder also grew more explicit: Khaddam said he believed that al-Assad ordered al-Hariri's assassination.
Khaddam is the highest ranking Syrian official to have publicly cut his ties with the Syrian government, with the possible exception of Rifaat al-Assad
, brother of former President Hafez al-Assad
, who was exiled in 1983, following an attempted coup d'état
.
Khaddam leads the opposition group National Salvation Front in Syria
which promises to bring down the government of Bashar Assad peacefully. The NSF had its last meeting on September 16, 2007 in Berlin, where some 140 opposition figures attended. On February 16, 2008 he accused the Syrian government of assassinating a top Hezbollah fugitive "for Israels sake."
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n politician who was Vice President of Syria from 1984 to 2005.
Early life and career
Abdul Halim Khaddam was born on 15 September 1932 in BaniyasBaniyas
Baniyas is a city of northwestern Syria, located at the foot of the hill of Qalaat el-Marqab , 55 km to the south of Latakia and 35 km north of Tartous , and a Catholic titular see under the Latin name of Balanea, which is presently vacant.It is famous for its orchards...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. Abdul Halim was one of the few Sunni Muslims to make it to the top of the Alawite
Alawite
The Alawis, also known as Alawites, Nusayris and Ansaris are a prominent mystical and syncretic religious group centred in Syria who are a branch of Shia Islam.-Etymology:...
-dominated Syrian leadership. He was long known as a loyalist of Hafez al-Assad
Hafez al-Assad
Hafez ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman al-Assad or more commonly Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule consolidated the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups, such as Operation Wappen in 1957 conducted by the Eisenhower administration and...
, and held a strong position within the Syrian government. In 1969, Khaddam had a major role in sentencing prominent Syrian politicians to death in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
, among them Amin al-Hafiz, Salah ad-Din al-Bitar, Nasim Al Safarjalani
Nasim Al Safarjalani
Nasim Al Safarjalani comes from a prominent Arab Syrian family from Damascus, Syria.-Origins and youth:...
, Khaled Al Hakim and others, through a special military court headed by later Syrian Defence Minister, Mustafa Tlass
Mustafa Tlass
Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass is a Syrian politician and a long time minister of defense, now retired.-Rise to power:Tlass was born in the Syrian town of al-Rastan near the city of Homs to a prominent Sunni Muslim family. He joined the Ba'ath Party at the age of 15, and met Hafez al-Assad when studying...
, and Abdul Halim Khaddam, as prosecutor. He later served as foreign minister of Syria from 1970 to 1984 and as Vice President of Syria from 1984 to 2005. He was interim President of Syria from June 10 to July 17, 2000, between the death of Hafez and the election of his son (the election was symbolic in nature as there was only one candidate and it somewhat represented an approval rating where the ba'ath claimed 97% of the votes), Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
, as the new President. At the time, there were rumours in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
that Khaddam would try to seize power.
Resignation
As the new President strengthened his grip on the Baathist bureaucracy, Khaddam, and other members of the "old guard" of the government, gradually lost influence. He announced his resignation on 6 June 2005, during the Ba'th Party Conference. That made him one of the last influential members of the "old guard" to leave the top tier of the government. The announcement came at a point when his political wings had already been clipped, but still the most powerful Sunni member in an Alawi Shi'ite government. After resigning, he relocated to Paris, France, ostensibly to write his memoirs.In an interview with Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya is a Pan-Arabist Saudi-owned Arabic-language television news channel. Launched on March 3, 2003, the channel is based in Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, and is majority-owned by the Saudi broadcaster Middle East Broadcasting Center ....
network from Paris, France, on December 30, 2005 Khaddam denounced Assad's many "political blunders" in dealing with Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. He especially attacked Rustum Ghazali
Rustum Ghazali
Rustum Ghazali is a Syrian politician and military officer.Born in 1953.Ghazali was appointed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2002 to succeed Gen. Ghazi Kanaan as head of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon...
, former head of Syrian operations in Lebanon, but defended his predecessor Ghazi Kanaan
Ghazi Kanaan
Ghazi Kanaan was Syria's Interior Minister from 2004 to 2005, and long-time head of Syria's security apparatus in Lebanon...
- Syria's Interior Minister, who is believed to have either committed suicide or been assassinated in October 2005. Khaddam also said that former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri, to whom Khaddam was considered close, "received many threats" from Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. The assassination of al-Hariri in February 2005 triggered the massive protests
Cedar Revolution
The Cedar Revolution or Independence Intifada was a chain of demonstrations in Lebanon triggered by the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005.The primary goals of the original activists were the...
that eventually ended the 30-year long Syrian military presence in Lebanon.
Exile
The Syrian parliament responded the next day by voting to bring treason charges against him, and the Baath Party expelled him. Following the Khaddam interview, the UN CommissionMehlis report
The Mehlis Report is the result of the United Nations' investigation into the 14 February 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. The investigation was launched in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1595 and headed by the German judge, Detlev Mehlis...
headed by Detlev Mehlis
Detlev Mehlis
Detlev Mehlis is currently the Senior Public Prosecutor in the Office of the Attorney General in Berlin. He has 30 years of prosecutorial experience and has led numerous investigations into serious, complex transnational crimes...
investigating the al-Hariri murder said it had asked the Syrian authorities to question Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
and Syria's Foreign Minister Faruq al-Sharaa
Farouk al-Sharaa
Farouk al-Sharaa , also known as Farouq al-Sharaa is a Syrian politician and diplomat. He is one of the most prominent officials in the Syrian government and served as foreign minister of Syria from 1984 until 2006 when he became Vice President of Syria. Sharaa still holds the...
. According to the Lebanese Daily Star
Daily Star (Lebanon)
The Daily Star is a pan-Middle East English language newspaper edited in Beirut. It was founded in 1952 by Kamel Mrowa, the publisher of the Arabic daily Al-Hayat to serve the growing number of expatriates brought by the oil industry...
newspaper, the Commission interviewed Khaddam on January 5, 2006.
On 14 January Khaddam announced that he was forming a "government in exile", predicting the end of al-Assad's government by the end of 2006. His accusations against al-Assad and his inner circle regarding the al-Hariri murder also grew more explicit: Khaddam said he believed that al-Assad ordered al-Hariri's assassination.
Khaddam is the highest ranking Syrian official to have publicly cut his ties with the Syrian government, with the possible exception of Rifaat al-Assad
Rifaat al-Assad
Rifaat al-Assad is the younger brother of the former President of Syria, Hafez al-Assad, and the uncle of the current President Bashar al-Assad, all of whom come from the minority Alawite Muslim sect. He was born in the village of Qardaha, near Lattakia in western Syria. He is perhaps best known...
, brother of former President Hafez al-Assad
Hafez al-Assad
Hafez ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman al-Assad or more commonly Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule consolidated the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups, such as Operation Wappen in 1957 conducted by the Eisenhower administration and...
, who was exiled in 1983, following an attempted coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
.
Khaddam leads the opposition group National Salvation Front in Syria
National Salvation Front in Syria
The National Salvation Front in Syria is a political party founded and based in Belgium. It was founded by Abdul Halim Khaddam, former Vice President of Syria and interim President from June-July 2000, and nationalist, moderate islamist, liberal and social-democratic opposition factions in exile....
which promises to bring down the government of Bashar Assad peacefully. The NSF had its last meeting on September 16, 2007 in Berlin, where some 140 opposition figures attended. On February 16, 2008 he accused the Syrian government of assassinating a top Hezbollah fugitive "for Israels sake."
Role in the 2011 Syrian uprising
Khaddam is considered an opposition leader to the current Syrian regime by the United States and the EU. In an interview on Israel's channel 2 TV, Khaddam acknowledged that he received money and help from the U.S. and the EU in order to overthrow the Syrian regime.External links
- Political biography, Middle East Intelligence Bulletin, February 2000
- Ex-Syrian VP denounces government: report, ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
, December 30, 2005 - Hariri threatened by Syria head, BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, December 30, 2005 - Former Syrian VP says Assad was involved in Hariri's death, HaaretzHaaretzHaaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
, December 31, 2005 - Syria party kicks out 'traitor', BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, January 1, 2006 - UN asks to meet Syrian president, BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, January 2, 2006 - The Fox Speaks, Sami M. Moubayed, Al-AhramAl-AhramAl-Ahram , founded in 1875, is the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, and the second oldest after al-Waqa'i`al-Masriya . It is majority owned by the Egyptian government....
Weekly, 5 - 11 January 2006 - Former Syrian VP set to form government in exile, HaaretzHaaretzHaaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
, January 15, 2006