Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Bashar Hafez al-Assad is the current President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Syrian-led branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, elected in 2000 and 2007, unopposed each time. Initially seen by the domestic and international community as a potential reformer and gaining the nickname "The Hope", this expectation gave way to the events of the Syrian civil war. The domestic Syrian opposition and large parts of the wider international community have subsequently called for al-Assad's resignation from power. Learn more about Bashar Hafez al-Assad, his family and rule of Syria in this book.