Monzer Makhous (also ''Mounzir'', ; born 1946)) is a Syrian

sedimentologist Sedimentology encompasses the study of modern sediments such as sand, silt, and clay, and the processes that result in their formation (erosion and weathering), transport, deposition and diagenesis. Sedimentologists apply their understanding of mo ...

who became a member of the

Syrian National Council The Syrian National Council (SNC; ar, المجلس الوطني السوري, ''al- Majlis al-Waṭanī as-Sūri'', french: Conseil national syrien), sometimes known as the Syrian National Transitional Council or the National Council of Syri ...

during the Syrian civil war. , he was recognised by France as a representative of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces and as the future Syrian Ambassador "once a provisional government is established and recognised internationally."

Education and academic career

Makhous is a geologist specialising in the

sedimentology Sedimentology encompasses the study of modern sediments such as sand, silt, and clay, and the processes that result in their formation (erosion and weathering), transport, deposition and diagenesis. Sedimentologists apply their understanding of mo ...

of North African sedimentary basins.

Political career

During the Syrian civil war, Makhous was a member of the

, affiliated with the ''National Bloc''. After the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces was created in November 2012 and its leader,

Moaz al-Khatib Ahmad Moaz Al-Khatib Al-Hasani ( ar, أحمد معاذ الخطيب الحسني, born 1960) is a former president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. He is also a former imam of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascu ...

, held talks with French president

François Hollande François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande (; born 12 August 1954) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2012 to 2017. He previously was First Secretary of the Socialist Party (PS) from 1997 to 2008, Mayor of Tulle from ...

, Makhous was chosen to initially become "a representative of the coalition" in France and then the future Syrian Ambassador to France "once a provisional government is established and recognised internationally."

Points of view

Alawite role in the Syrian civil war

Makhous, a member of the

Alawi Alawi ( ar, علوي), also transliterated as Alevi, Alevi, Alavi, Alawid, or Alawite (french: Alaouite), is an adjective denoting "of or related to Ali", the Prophet Muhammad's cousin. As a proper noun it is used by individuals, dynasties, place ...

community, stated in December 2011, "The fact that Alawites have never been able to voice their anger at the regime is not because they supported it but because they have been suppressed for more than 40 years". He said that Alawis "have been the most affected by the brutality of Assad's regime," that Alawis participated in protests against the

Bashar al-Assad Bashar Hafez al-Assad, ', Levantine pronunciation: ; (, born 11 September 1965) is a Syrian politician who is the 19th president of Syria, since 17 July 2000. In addition, he is the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed Forces and the ...

government in

Baniyas Baniyas ( ar, بَانِيَاس ') is a Mediterranean coastal city in Tartous Governorate, northwestern Syria, located south of Latakia (ancient Laodicea) and north of Tartous (ancient Tortosa). It is known for its citrus fruit orchards an ...

and Jableh and that Alawis "all have to declare that the Syrian regime does not represent them and that they condemn its brutality against the Syrian people. This is of vital importance for the Alawite community and for national unity in general."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Makhous, Monzer Living people Syrian diplomats 1946 births Syrian Alawites People from Latakia Governorate Syrian geologists Syrian National Council members National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces members