political figure

Walid al-Muallem

وليد المعلم

Also known as: Abu Jihad

Journeys

Walid al-Muallem: The Voice That Denied Everything

Muallem's career as Foreign Minister during the civil war made him one of the most visible defenders of a regime committing documented atrocities. His UN appearances, characterized by flat denials in the face of overwhelming evidence, became a defining feature of Syria's diplomatic strategy: use the UN forum to obstruct accountability, not participate in it.

Biography

Walid al-Muallem served as Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister and then Foreign Minister under Bashar al-Assad from 2006 until his death in 2020. As the public face of Syrian diplomacy during the civil war, he delivered increasingly implausible denials at the UN of chemical weapons use and civilian massacres. He died in Damascus in November 2020, still in office, still defending a regime that had killed half a million people.

Documentation Status

VerificationConfirmed

Journeys1

Key Facts

Born:1941-01-05

Place:Damascus, Syria

Died:2020-11-15

Nationality:Syrian