Syrian politician and businessman From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ghassan Hitto (Arabic: غسان هيتو; born 1963) is a Syrian businessman, NGO executive and politician. In 2013, he was the first head of the interim government established by the Syrian opposition's National Coalition.[1][2] Born in Damascus into a Kurdish family, he left Syria to the U.S. in 1980, became a naturalized American citizen and worked as an information technology executive and lived in Texas until the Syrian civil war. In late 2012, he relocated to Turkey.[3] He was elected prime minister on 18 March 2013 by a narrow margin over former Ba'athist agricultural minister Assad Mustafa.[4] Hitto resigned on 8 July 2013.[5]
Ghassan Hitto | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ghassan Hitto in 2013 | |
| Prime Minister of the Syrian Interim Government Acting | |
| In office 18 March 2013 – 14 September 2013 | |
| President | Moaz al-Khatib George Sabra (acting) Ahmad al-Jarba |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Ahmad Tu'mah |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1963 (age 61–62) Damascus, Syria |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis Indiana Wesleyan University |
Hitto graduated from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis in 1989 with degrees in mathematics and computer science.[6][7] He also received an M.B.A. at Indiana Wesleyan University in 1994.[3][6]
Hitto is a former businessman who has lived in the United States for decades, most recently in Murphy, Texas.[2][8] Before joining the opposition, he worked with Inovar, a Telecommunication firm, from 2001 to 2012.[6]
Hitto's candidacy as primer minister of the opposition's government was backed by Qatar. France 24 reported that he was seen as close to the opposition's Islamist ranks.[9] He received 35 of 48 votes cast for the premiership, according to the BBC.[10] Following his election, at least 12 key members of the SNC suspended their membership partly in protest of Hitto's election on a majority vote instead of a consensus vote.[11]
Hitto was unable to form a government because of persistent divisions within the coalition. On 8 July 2013, he announced his resignation as prime minister.[9]
Later, Hitto was active as the CEO of Syrian Forum, a humanitarian NGO that intervened in favor of Syrian refugees.[12][13]
Hitto is married to Suzanne Hitto, an American schoolteacher; they have four children, Amer, Imran, Obaida, Lama all born in the United States.[4] He has worked in the technology sector and supported the private school Brighter Horizons Academy[14] founded in 1989 by the Islamic Services Foundation (ISF).[15] He is also a founding member of the Muslim Legal Fund of America[16] created after the 11 September 2001 attacks to give legal aid to Muslims.
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