Faisal Mekdad

Who is Faisal Mekdad?

Faisal Mekdad is the Deputy Foreign Minister of Syria.

He worked several years with the IUS, International Union of Students, then returned to Syria where he worked with the Foreign Ministry later becoming UN Ambassador. On completion he returned to Syria to take the present role. Faisal Mekdad has given interviews to Western media, defending President Bashar al-Assad. At a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, he denied allegations that the Syrian government was violently cracking down on Arab spring protesters in Syria.

His elderly father was kidnapped from his village of Ghossom by rebel forces on 18 May 2013. His father is believed to be in his 80s.