Salim Yasin (Arabic: سليم سعيد ياسين; 10 October 1937 – 6 March 2016) was a Syrian economist, academic and former deputy prime minister for economic affairs.

Salim Yasin
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs
In office
1985 – 14 March 2000
PresidentHafez Assad
Prime Minister
Succeeded byKhalid Raad
Member of the Regional Command of the Syrian Regional Branch
In office
21 June 2000 – 8 December 2001
Personal details
Born
Salim Said Yasin

(1937-10-10)10 October 1937
Latakia, French Mandate of Syria
Died6 March 2016(2016-03-06) (aged 78)
Latakia, Syria
Political partySyrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party
Alma mater

Early life and education edit

Yasin was born in Latakia on 10 October 1937.[1] He received a bachelor's degree from Damascus University in 1960.[1] He obtained a master's degree in economics from the University of Colorado in 1963, and a PhD in 1965.[1]

Career edit

After his graduation, Yasin began to work as director of the Latakia petroleum installation in 1960 and served there for one year.[1] From 1961 to 1965 he worked as a civil servant.[1] Then he served as assistant professor of economics at the University of Aleppo from 1966 to 1970.[1] He was appointed vice dean of the faculty of commerce of the same university and his tenure lasted from 1967 to 1969.[2] He served as acting president of the University of Aleppo from 1969 to 1970.[2] Then he became associate professor of economics and president of Tishreen University which he held from 1971 to 1978.[1] He was the transport minister in the period 1978–1980 and then minister of planning between 1980 and 1981.[2] Next he was named as the minister of economy and foreign trade in 1981 and was in office until 1985.[2]

Yasin was appointed deputy prime minister in 1985.[1] Since Prime Minister Abdel Rauf Al Kassem resigned, a new government was formed led by Mahmoud Zuabi on 2 November 1987. Yasin retained his post together with other two deputy prime ministers, namely Mustafa Tlass and Mahmoud Qaddour.[3] Yasin was in office until March 2000 and replaced by Khalid Raad in the post. Then Yasin returned to teaching post at Damascus University.[4] Following the death of Hafez Assad he was made a member of the Baath Party's regional command in June 2000.[5]

Controversy edit

In June 2000, Yasin was arrested and imprisoned on charges of embezzlement for which former Prime Minister Mahmoud Zuabi was also accused.[6][7] His family assets were also frozen by the government.[8] Then he was freed in November 2000.[4] However, on 8 December 2001, he and former transport minister Mufid Abdul Karim were sentenced to ten years in prison and fined for $240 million.[2][7][9]

Death edit

On 6 March 2016, Yasin died in his hometown, Latakia.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Profile - Dr. Khalid Raad". APS Review Downstream Trends. 20 March 2000. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sami Moubayed (June–July 2002). "Corruption Trials in Damascus: A Popular New Trend?". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs: 31–32.
  3. ^ "Syrian President Picks A New Prime Minister". The New York Times. Reuters. 2 November 1987. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Yassin back in favor with Bashar". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 2 (10). November 2000.
  5. ^ Joshua Stacher (2012). Adaptable Autocrats: Regime Power in Egypt and Syria. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804780629.
  6. ^ "Former Syrian ministers face charges". BBC. 24 July 2000. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  7. ^ a b Gary C. Gambill (June 2000). "Syria's Night of Long Knives". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 2 (3).
  8. ^ Brian Whitaker (11 June 2000). "Dictator's son inherits fragile peace". Al Bab. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  9. ^ Alan George (2003). Syria: Neither Bread Nor Freedom. London; New York: Zed Books. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-84277-213-3.
  10. ^ "وفاة النائب الأسبق لرئيس مجلس الوزراء السوري الدكتور سليم ياسين .. وسيشيع جثمانه اليوم من داره في اللاذقية إلى مثواه الأخير في مقبرة الروضة بالمدينة". alboselh.net (in Arabic). 6 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020.

External links edit