Fawaz Akhras

Fawas Akhras (Arabic: فواز أخرس‎) (born September 1946) is a Syrian–English cardiologist known for being the father-in-law of Bashar al-Assad[1] and chairman of the British Syrian Society.[2]

Biography

Akhras qualified in medicine in 1973.[3]

Akhras has been described as "a key figure in liaison between the Syrian and British governments".[2] He is the founder of the British Syrian Society and is involved with a number of Syrian causes.[4]

He is a consultant interventional cardiologist at the Cromwell Hospital in South Kensington, London, and practices at his private medical clinic in Harley Street, London.[5] He lives in Acton, London, and is married to former diplomat Sahar Otri al-Akhras. Their daughter, Asma married Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in 2000.

It was reported before the Syrian civil war that he had influence on the Syrian president in domestic affairs.[6] On 15 March 2012, The Guardian published allegedly intercepted emails that appeared to show that he was advising the Syrian President from the UK during the crackdown on anti-regime protesters.[7] According to The Guardian, Akhras used a private email channel to the Syrian president offering advice on how his government should spin its suppression of the uprising, including how best to rebut apparent video footage of Syrian forces torturing children.[7] Speaking to The Telegraph in 2012, Akhras drew comparisons between the start of the Syrian civil war and the 2011 England riots.[2]

References
  1. Fletcher, Martin (June 1, 2012). "Bashar al-Assad's father-in-law Fawaz Akhras can't hide on Houla". The Australian. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  2. Andrew Gilligan "Syria: Assad's father-in-law compares Syrian uprising to London riots" Telegraph 15 March 2012
  3. "Dr Fawaz Akhras, Consultant Cardiologist". Bupa Cromwell Hospital. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  4. Black, Ian; editor, Middle East (27 April 2011). "Bashar al-Assad's UK gatekeeper 'only wants to build bridges'". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2017 – via www.theguardian.com.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. "Dr. Fawaz Akhras". Fawazakhras.com. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  6. Bar, Shmuel (2006). "Bashar's Syria: The Regime and its Strategic Worldview" (PDF). Comparative Strategy. 25: 381. doi:10.1080/01495930601105412. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  7. Robert Booth (2012-03-15). "Assad emails: father-in-law gave advice from UK during crackdown". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2012-05-18.


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