Syrian people
الشعب السوري
Sūriyyīn

Julia Domna Philip the Arab Posidonius Simeon Stylites John of Damascus Elagabalus Zenobia Francis Marrash Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi Qestaki al-Homsi Hashim al-Atassi Faris al-Khoury Jamil al-Ulshi Yusuf al-Azma Sultan Pasha al-Atrash Sami al-Hinnawi Zaki al-Arsuzi Akram El-Hourani Asmahan Riad Ismat Abdallah Dardari George Mourad Asalah Nasri George Wassouf Ghassan Massoud
Total population
Syria: 22,530,746 (July 2012 est.)[1] Diaspora: 17,000,000[2]
Languages
Contemporary Arabic Ancient languages Eblaite, Amorite, Ugaritic, Aramaic
Religion
Islam, mostly Sunni, and a minority of Alawites and Druze Christianity, mostly Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic
Related ethnic groups
Other Semitic peoples: (due to Arameans and Canaanite Ancestors): Arabs · Assyrians · Lebanese · Palestinians Jordanians · Iraqis · Bahranis · Maltese · Mizrahi Jews Various Iranian peoples: Kurds · Persians · Ossetians Various Aryan peoples: Albanians · Armenians Bosniaks · Greeks Various Caucasians: Georgians · Adyghe Abkhazians · Chechens Various Turkic peoples: Azeris · Turks Various Afro-Asiatic peoples: Egyptians · Berbers

The Syrian people (Arabic: الشعب السوري‎ / ALA-LC: al-sha‘ab al-Sūrī) are the inhabitants and citizens of Syria and are, overall an indigenous Eastern Mediterranean people. While modern-day Syrians are commonly described as Arabs by virtue of their modern-day language and bonds to Arab culture and history, they are, in fact, largely a blend of the various Aramaic speaking groups indigenous to the region who were Arabized when Muslim Arabs from the Arabian Peninsula arrived and settled following the Arab expansion. Syrians are tied together by geography, linguistic heritage, religion, and similar Eastern Mediterranean ethnicities. Most Syrians reside primarily in Syria; however 17 million Syrians^[2] live outside of Syria and they stay connected to their cultural roots by watching Syrian satellite television, listening to Syrian music and preparing Syrian cuisine.

Damascus, the capital of Syria, is one of the most continuously inhabited cities^[3][4] in the world (for 8000 years straight, Syrians inhabited Damascus), and a large percentage of Damascenes are the descendents of the early inhabitants of Damascus.

Language[link]

Arabic is the mother tongue of some 90%^[1] of Syrians as well as the official state language. The Syrian dialect, which belongs to the same Eastern Mediterranean-Levantine family tree of dialects, varies little from Modern Standard Arabic; however it is uniquely different from the other Arabic vernaculars in that it is saturated with Aramaic, Syriac, Greek, Persian, and Phoenician words. However, the standardized form of Arabic, used in formal settings throughout the Arab world, contains the same vocabulary and grammar for all Arab countries. Kurdish, Turkish, and Circassian are also spoken in Syria by their respective minority communities. A direct decendent of the Aramaic of Jesus Christ, is still spoken in ancient Christian village of Ma'loula as well as widely understood within many other Syrian-Christian communities -- all of whom use Syriac as a liturgical language. English, and to a lesser extent French, is widely understood and used in interactions with tourists and other foreigners.

Religion[link]

Religious differences in Syria have historically been tolerated, and religious minorities tend to retain distinct cultural, and religious identities. Sunni Islam is the religion of 74% of Syrians. The Alawites, an ancient off-shoot of Shia Islam that is distinct from Sunni Islam, make up 12% of the population and mostly live in and around Latakia. Christians make up 10% of the country. Most Syrian Christians adhere to the Byzantine liturgical rites, the two largest are the Greek Orthodox and the Greek Catholic churches^[5][6]. The Druze, are a mountainous people who reside in Jebel Druze. The Druze, who helped spark the Great Syrian Revolt, are known as fierce soldiers. The Ismailis are an even smaller sect, that originated in Asia. A small number of Armenian Christians fled Turkey during the Armenian Genocide and settled in Syria. The Kurds, although Sunni Muslim, are very secular and have a distinct language. The Circassians, are of North Caucasus origin and are mostly Sunni Muslim, following the Hanafi school of thought. The Circassians number about 100 000 and mostly live in northern Syria. The nomadic Beduoin lead a lifestyle that keeps them largely separated from the rest of society, herding sheep and moving through the desert, although some have settled in towns and villages. One group that remains on the outside of society both politically and socially, is the roughly 100,000 Palestinian refugees, who were expelled from their homeland in 1948 after the creation of Israel.

Beliefs[link]

As a Mediterranean people, the Syrian people are a mosaic of West and East. Conservative and liberally minded people will live right next each other, and hold debates with each other. Like the other countries in the region, religion permeates life; the government registers every Syrian's religious affiliation.

Cuisine[link]

Syrian cuisine is dominated by Mediterranean ingredients. Olive oil, garlic, olives, peppermint, and sesame oil are some of the ingredients that are used in many traditional meals. Traditional Syrian dishes enjoyed by Syrians include, tabouleh, labaneh, shanklish, wara enab, makdous, kebab, sfiha, moutabal, hummus, maneesh, bameh, and fatoush. Before the main courses, Syrians eat maza, which is basically an appetizer. Syrian Muslim men are more likely to drink tea with their maza; whereas Syrian Christian men prefer to drink Arak with their maza.

Ancient Syrians[link]

100 Syrian pound note with Philip the Arab.

Ancient Syria has stood as a testament to the many cultural and artistic achievements in ancient human civilization. Modern archaeological discoveries have produced extensive writings, which illustrate a brilliant culture rivaling those of Egypt and Mesopotamia in and around the ancient city of Ebla, Syria. Later Syrian artists and scholars contributed to Hellenistic and Roman thought and culture. Shortly after becoming a province of the Byzantine Empire, an indigenous Syrian^[7], Philip the Arab became emperor in 244 AD and quickly signed a peace deal with the Persian Empire. According to the historian Eusebius, Philip the Arab is the first Christian emperor of the eastern part of the Roman Empire. Even though he was from the equestrian order, Philip the Arab rose through the Roman rank and file by merit. After Decius's victory over the Goth invasions, Decius's army declared him Emperor and he went on to defeat Philip the Arab's forces in the battle of Verona^[8].

Zenobia or Zainab in Arabic, was a "warrior queen" who ruled Syria from 267 AD to 272 AD and built the Palmyrene Empire that included the conquest of Egypt. After realizing Zenobia's threat to the Roman Empire, the Roman emperor Aurelian decided to turn his attention away from fighting the Gauls to stopping Zenobia's quest for more Roman territory. In the ancient capital of Syria, Antioch, Aurelian's army defeated Zenobia's forces and put an end to Zenobia's conquests.^[9]

Zeno of Sidon helped found the Epicurean school of philosophy; Cicero was a student of Antiochus of Ascalon at Athens. Posidonius's chronicles of Apamea influenced Livy and Plutarch. Syrians have made many contributions to Arabic literature and music and have an impressive tradition of written poetry and Oral literature.

Famous people from Syrian ancestry[link]

• Rosemary Barkett (born 1939), was the first woman to serve on the Florida Supreme Court, and the first woman Chief Justice of that court. She currently serves as a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
• Hala Gorani (born March 1, 1970), is a news anchor and correspondent for CNN International.^[10]
• Steve Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011), was the co-founder and former CEO of Apple, the largest Disney shareholder,^[11] and a member of Disney's Board of Directors. Jobs was considered a leading figure in both the computer and entertainment industries.^[12]
• Teri Hatcher, is an actress most famous for her role in Desperate Housewives. Her mother is part Syrian.

See also[link]

Ottoman Syria

References[link]

v t e Syrian people and diaspora By country Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Israel Mexico Pakistan Turkey United States

v t e Syria topics History Timeline · Ancient · Roman · Islamic · Ottoman · Arab Kingdom of Syria · French Mandate · Independent Syria · Modern (Syrian uprising against the Ba'athist regime) Government Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party (Regional Command · National Command) · National Progressive Front · Constitution · President · Vice President · Cabinet (Prime Minister, Ministries) · Parliament (Speaker) · Judiciary (Council, Supreme Court) · Military (Army, Air Force, Navy, Air Defense) Politics Elections · Political parties · Arab nationalism · Syrian nationalism Geography Fertile Crescent · Greater Syria · Governorates · Districts · Cities · Southern Syria · Hauran · Golan Heights · Al-Jazira · Syrian Desert · Anti-Lebanon mountains · Hermon · Euphrates · Orontes · Rivers  · Volcanoes Infrastructure Communications · Education · Energy · Health · Media · Transport  · Waste · Water Economy Syrian pound · Central Bank · Companies · International rankings Society Demographics · People · Diaspora (Refugees) · Religion · Holidays · Health · Scouting Culture Music · Television · Cinema · Cuisine · Holidays · Flag · Anthem · Emblem  · Smoking Issues Golan Heights · Iskandaron · Human rights · Terrorism · WMDs Portal

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2011)

General Assef Shawkat (Arabic: آصف شوكت‎) is the deputy Minister of Defense of Syria since September 2011. He is married to Bashar Assad's sister Bushra.^[1] He previously served as the army's deputy chief of staff from July 2009 to September 2011. He then bypassed the position of chief of staff to become deputy Minister of Defense.^[2] Shawkat was considered one of the president's top security chiefs, however, he was replaced in 2010 as head of Military Intelligence and made deputy chief-of-staff of the armed forces. Although he was also promoted, opposition figures said he was seen to have been at fault in the 2008 assassination of Hezbollah military commander Imad Mughniyeh in an area of Damascus that fell under his responsibility. He is a member of President Bashar al-Assad's inner circle.^[3] Since the appointment of General Dawoud Rajiha to head the Ministry of Defense, Shawkat is an important figure in the Ministry of Defense, though the army is under the de facto control of Maher al-Assad, the president's brother.^[4][5]

Early life[link]

Assef Shawkat was born in al-Madehleh village of Tartus in 1950 and grew up in modest comfort. In the late 1970s, he volunteered for service in the Syrian army. By the mid-1980s, Shawkat had risen to prominence among officers of his generation, yet he still had no official status in the Syrian state.

Marriage to Bushra al-Assad[link]

In the mid 1980s Assef Shawkat was introduced to Hafez Assad's daughter Bushra al-Assad. Studying pharmacy at the time at Damascus University and ten years his junior, Bushra had been noted for being intelligent and well mannered. Bushra was considered the most eligible female in Damascus, and some commentators express their surprise at her choice, given that Shawkat was a young officer of modest means whose only asset was his university education. It is not known how the two were introduced but it has been reported that Bushra's younger brother Basil al-Assad was strongly opposed to their relationship. He considered Shawkat as being too old for her, and lustful for her money. Basil pointed out that although an Alawite, Shawkat was of inferior standing and should never become an in-law of the Assad family. When Shawkat insisted, Basil had him arrested. Basil Assad put Shawkat behind bars four times to prevent the couple from meeting. On January 21, 1994, however, Basil died in a car crash en route to Damascus Airport.

One year later, Bushra eloped with Shawkat, married him, and they rented a residence in the Mezzeh district of Damascus. She did not obtain her father's blessing nor that of the Assad family. A few days later, President Assad stationed a guard at their door, presumably for their protection. When rumors of their marriage began to spread, Assad decided to summon the couple back to the Palace. He gave them his blessing and Shawkat became Assad's only son-in-law. To meet the demands of his new position, he was promoted in rank to Major-General.

During this time, while Shawkat was increasing his familiarity with the family, he began to befriend Bushra's brother Bashar al-Assad (now president of Syria), an ophthalmologist who recently returned from London to fill in his late brother's position as heir apparent. The two men became good friends and with time, Bashar began to rely heavily on Shawkat for companionship and security.

Political career[link]

Having faith in his abilities, President Assad instructed Shawkat to support Bashar and "never part his side." Shawkat complied, and by 1998, was rumored to have become the strongest man in Syria. When General Hikmat al-Shihabi retired from office in January 1998, Shawkat's friend General Ali Aslan took his place as chief of staff. After receiving the blessing of Hafez, he was welcomed into the family and built a close relationship with Bashar. Bushra reportedly nurtured the relationship through her influential role as the president's secretary. Former Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam said Gen Shawkat was a "smart, cultivated, and courageous officer with great ambitions", who had established ties with intelligence chiefs and other powerbrokers. On June 10, 2000, Hafez al-Assad suddenly died after a heart attack. Since then, Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his father as President of Syria, has relied heavily on Shawkat to strengthen the regime. For months, rumors had circulated that Shawkat was the strong-man of Syria behind the scenes, and they were confirmed when he stood by Bashar's side at the funeral service, accepting condolences for the late President. Ultimately, however, Shawkat's power is derived from the Assad family. He has no power base of his own. In 2001, Assef was named Deputy Director of Syrian Military Intelligence, one of the main branches of the Syrian intelligence apparatus. After the 11 September 2001 attacks, Gen Shawkat was one of the president's main liaisons to intelligence agencies in the US and Europe and helped set up a US intelligence operation in Syria, which was later shut down after relations between the two countries soured. In 2005, Maher and Shawkat were both mentioned in a preliminary report by UN investigators as one of the people who might have planned the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. The next year, Gen Shawkat was named a Specially Designated National (SDN) by the US, allowing his assets to be frozen. It said he had "been a key architect of Syria's domination of Lebanon, as well as a fundamental contributor to Syria's long-standing policy to foment terrorism". From 2005 to 2009, he assumed control of the entire Military Intelligence apparatus. In July 2009 he was upgraded to the rank of General and named as deputy Chief of Staff.

Rumoured Death[link]

While rumors of Assef Shawkat's death had persisted before^[6], the first official announcement from the rebels came on 19 May, 2012.

During the very early morning of 19 May, the Free Syrian Army launched widespread attacks against the Syrian government in Central Damascus. The Kafer Souseh, Mezzeh, Malki, and Rukn al Din neighborhoods erupted with intense gunfire. Security forces began closing off Ummayid square and Abbasayeen square, and blocked off Central Damascus's Al Shami hospital. The Free Syrian Army's Damascus council announced that one of their operatives from the FSA's Al Sahabeh batallion had successfully poisoned all eight members of Bashar Assad's Crisis Cell, a group of top military officials who currently run the Syrian army's daily operations. Members of the Crisis cell include Assef Shawkat. The Free Syrian Army's Damascus council said they believed at least six out of the eight to have been killed. Mohammed Shaar, the interior minister, and vice-president, Hassan Turkmani, denied their own deaths to State TV, calling it "categorically baseless".^[7][8]

Shawkat was claimed on an opposition Facebook page to have been buried in his home town near Tartous.^[9]

See also[link]

• Assad family

References[link]

External links[link]

• Arabic 123
• English [1]