In 1987, Faris spent eight days in area with the Soviet Union's Interkosmos area flight program
Mohammad Faris, often known as the “Armstrong of the Arab World” and Syria's solely astronaut, died on Friday aged 72 in exile within the Turkish metropolis of Gaziantep of problems from a coronary heart assault he suffered a month in the past, in accordance with a detailed pal who spoke to CNN by cellphone.
In 1987, Faris spent eight days in area with the Soviet Union's Interkosmos area flight program. The Syrian Air Pressure pilot flew with a Soviet crew to the Mir area station, changing into the primary and solely Syrian astronaut and the second Arab to succeed in area.
Syrians gathered to observe as former Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad, father of present President Bashar, spoke to Faris throughout a cellphone name broadcast dwell on state tv whereas in area, asking him what might see. Faris replied: “I see my beloved nation, I see it nice and delightful because it actually is.” These phrases, although seemingly harmless, marked the start of his downfall.
In a 2023 documentary aired on the Al Jazeera information community, Faris revealed that he had chosen to not learn a scripted speech through the dwell cellphone name and as a substitute marketed his nation, upsetting the unaccustomed Syrian dictator to share the limelight with one other.
Upon his return to Syria, Faris was acknowledged as a nationwide hero by tens of 1000’s of Syrians. Nonetheless, Hafez Al-Assad had a unique view. Throughout a medal ceremony the place the protocol was for the president to hold the medal round his neck, Faris accepted the medal in a field.
Faris mentioned in an interview that lately he had requested President Assad to fund a nationwide area program to assist practice extra Syrians to observe in his footsteps in area, however Assad refused as a result of – in accordance with Faris – he didn’t he was all for serving to his countrymen develop.
Faris lived a quiet life in Aleppo after his return to Earth. After the loss of life of Hafez Al-Assad and the ascension of his son Bashar to the presidency, Faris supported the Syrian revolution that started in 2011. In 2012, he defected and publicly opposed the Syrian regime, placing the lives of his household and himself in danger. .
“After we determined to go away Syria, I scattered my youngsters in several neighborhoods of Aleppo in order that we might meet at a sure level. We left in a automobile with the one that helped us escape,” Faris informed Al Jazeera in 2023.
“There was a helicopter flying overhead, however as soon as we received right into a city the place the Free Syrian Military had machine weapons, they withdrew,” Faris added.
Days later he moved to Turkey to dwell as a refugee. He turned highly regarded among the many Syrian refugee group in Istanbul. In 2020, he acquired Turkish citizenship.
Faris, who had lived in Russia between 1985-1987 for training, was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. However he himself was important of Russia's assist for the Syrian regime.
In an interview with the AP in March 2016, he mentioned he regretted that Moscow supported the dictatorship in Syria: “I’m very sorry for the Russian intervention, which stood by the dictator Bashar Al-Assad who’s killing the Syrian individuals together with his planes.
Supply: cnn.gr
