Part 2/8:
Bashar al-Assad’s story cannot be told without understanding the oppressive legacy left by his father, Hafez al-Assad, who seized power in a coup in 1970. Hafez established a regime characterized by political assassinations, censorship, and brutal suppression of dissent. His policies created an atmosphere of fear and compliance among those who opposed him, consistently leading to violent reprisals against any perceived threats.
Bashar, initially seen as a more moderate leader due to his Western education and professional background, quickly adapted to the authoritarian model laid down by his father. Though briefly promising reform, he soon resorted to the same tactics as his father, employing censorship, arrests, and murder against critics of the regime.