Bassam Abdel Majeed (; ar, بسام عبد المجيد ) (born 1950) is a Syrian military officer, politician and diplomat of Circassian origin.

Early life and education

Majeed is of Circassian origin, and was born into a

Sunni Muslim Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word ''Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagree ...

family in 1950 in

Beer Ajam Beer Ajam ( ar, بئر عجم, Biʾr ʿAjam, also spelled Bir Ajam, ''lit.'' " Non-Arabs' Spring") is a Syrian Circassian village in the Quneitra Governorate in the Syrian controlled portion of the Golan Heights. It has been inhabited for about ...

, a village in the

Quneitra Governorate Quneitra Governorate ( ar, مُحافظة القنيطرة / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Al-Qunayṭrah'') is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is situated in southern Syria, notable for the location of the Golan Heights. The ...

in southwestern Syria. He attended Syria's Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970.

Career

Majeed held several military and security posts. He was director of the

military police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. In wartime operations, the military police may support the main fighting force with force protection, convoy security, screening, rear recon ...

from 2003 to 2006. He was appointed the interior minister of

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

on 11 February 2006, succeeding

Ghazi Kanaan Ghazi Kanaan ( ar, غازي كنعان; 1942 – 12 October 2005), also known as Abu Yo'roub, was Syria's interior minister from 2004 to 2005, and long-time head of Syria's security apparatus in Lebanon. His violent death during an investigat ...

. When he was in office,

Hezbollah Hezbollah (; ar, حزب الله ', , also transliterated Hizbullah or Hizballah, among others) is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group, led by its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah since 1992. Hezbollah's parami ...

commander Imad Mugniyeh was killed in

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

in February 2008. Majeed described the attack as "terrorist act". Majeed's term lasted until 23 April 2009 and he was replaced by

Said Mohammad Sammour Said Mohammad Sammour ( ar, سعيد محمد سمور) (born 1950) is a Syrian military officer and politician who served as interior minister between 2009 and 2011. Early life and education Sammour was born in Jableh in 1950. He received a bac ...

. In October 2009, Majeed was appointed Syria's ambassador to

Kuwait Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...

Personal life

Majeed is married, and has two daughters and one son.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Majeed, Bassam Abdel 1950 births Living people People from Quneitra District Syrian people of Circassian descent Syrian Sunni Muslims Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region politicians Syrian ministers of interior Ambassadors of Syria to Kuwait