Issam al-Attar (Arabic: عصام العطار) is a former Muslim Brotherhood leader, a symbol of resistance to Hafez al-Assad, and in exile in Aachen, Germany since the 1970s. He was born in 1927 in Syria. He was the second Supreme Guide of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, taking over from its founder, Mustafa al-Siba'i, in 1961.[2] His sister, Najah al-Attar is the Vice President of Syria and is the only woman to have served in the post, which she has held since 2006.[3] Previously she was Minister of Culture from 1976 to 2000. His wife was assassinated by a death squad sent by Assad[citation needed].

Issam al-Attar
عصام العطار
Personal
Born1927 (age 96–97)
ReligionIslam
CitizenshipSyrian
DenominationSunni
MovementSalafiyya[1]
RelationsMohammed Reda al-Attar (father)
Najah al-Attar (sister)
Muslim leader
PredecessorMustafa al-Siba'i
SuccessorAdnan Saad al-Din
Supreme Guide of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood
In office
1961–1980
DeputyAli Sadreddine Al-Bayanouni

Attar was denied re-entry to Syria by the newly installed Ba'athist government following a hajj trip to Mecca in 1963, and has lived in exile in Germany since the 1970s.[4] Attar was in turn removed from his position as Supreme Guide in 1980 as a result of poor health and due to repeated government victories in the Islamic uprising in Syria.[2] He has led the Talaa’i organization in Germany since the late 1970s, which works mostly with non-Syrian Muslims. He still consults with the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood on Syria related issues.[5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ S. Moussalli, Ahmad (1999). Historical Dictionary of Islamic Fundamentalist Movements in the Arab World, Iran and Turkey. Folkestone, Kent: The Scarecrow Press. pp. 258–259. ISBN 0-8108-3609-2. AL-SALAFIYYA. .. In Damascus, many Jordanian students were influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood's Shaykh Mustapha al-Siba'i and 'Isam al-'Attar, both with a long history in al-Salafiyya.
  2. ^ a b "History Repeats Itself as Tragedy". Foreign Policy. 21 September 2012. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Syria's First Female Vice President Hailed as Progress for Women". Arab News. 24 March 2006. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Syrian exiles call for army to side with people". Reuters. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  5. ^ "The Battle within Syria: An Interview with Muslim Brotherhood Leader Ali Bayanouni". The Jamestown Foundation. 11 August 2005. Retrieved 22 September 2012.

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