Asia Western Asia (Middle East) Notes Abdul Karim Qassem Iraq 1958–1963 Gained power by coup; viewed by some as benevolent (see [60]). Abdul Salam Arif Iraq 1963–1966 Gained power in a coup; military ruler. Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr Iraq 1968–1979 Gained power in a coup; never elected. Hafez al-Assad Syria 1970–2000 Gained power in a coup; totalitarian;[Citation Needed] cult of personality; oversaw Hama massacre yielding twenty to forty thousand dead (see [61]). Ruhollah Khomeini Iran 1979–1989 As Supreme Leader, held ultimate and uncontested authority over all government matters under the principle of Guardianship. Created the extra-constitutional Special Clerical Court system in 1987, accountable only to the Supreme Leader and used principally for suppression of political dissent. Instituted routine torture, beheadings for children. Saddam Hussein Iraq 1979–2003 Pressured Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr to resign in 1979 and formally became president. Repressive; developed extensive personality cult; deposed by United States and coalition forces in an invasion. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Iran 1989-present Continues Khomeinis Islamist path & uses religion as a tool, cracks down on all authentic dissent, tortures, and has given orders that permit killings like that of Akbar Mohammadi and Zahra Kazemi. Only permitts government-organized demonstrations. Allows a multi-party government but disallows the candidacy of true moderates. Bashar al-Assad Syria 2000–present No opposition permitted in election following death of his father; widely described as a dictator
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 05:31:01 +0000
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