defector

Muhammad Fares

محمد أحمد فارس

Also known as: Syria's Cosmonaut

Journeys

From Mir to Exile: Syria's Cosmonaut Who Defected

Syria's only astronaut went to space as a national hero. Twenty-five years later, he fled as a refugee condemning the government that had celebrated him.

Biography

Muhammad Fares is Syria's only cosmonaut — he flew to the Soviet space station Mir in 1987 as part of the Intercosmos program, becoming a national hero and symbol of Syrian achievement under Hafez al-Assad. When the revolution began in 2011, he initially stayed silent, but eventually defected from Syria in 2012 after witnessing the brutal crackdown, condemning the Assad government and joining the opposition. His journey from Soviet space station to Syrian refugee illustrated the complete collapse of the state that had made him famous.

Documentation Status

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Journeys1

Key Facts

Born:1951-05-23

Place:Aleppo, Syria

Nationality:Syrian