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 | |
---|---|
Minister of Interior | |
In office 11 February 2006 – 23 April 2009 | |
President | Bashar Assad |
Prime Minister | Mohammad Naji Al Otari |
Preceded by | Ghazi Kanaan |
Succeeded by | Said Mohammad Sammour |
Ambassador to Belarus | |
In office ?–2019 | |
President | Bashar al-Assad |
Succeeded by | Farouk Taha |
Personal details | |
Born | 1950 (age 73–74) Beer Ajam, Syria |
Political party | Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party |
Military service | |
Rank | Major General |
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]
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 described the attack as "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]
Majeed is married, and has two daughters and one son.[citation needed]