Issam al-Attar

Background

He was born in 1927 in Syria.

Career

Previously she was Minister of Culture from 1976 to 2000. Attar was denied re-entry to Syria by the newly installed Ba'athist government following a haj trip to Mecca in 1963, and has lived in exile in Germany since the 1970s. Attar was in turn removed from his position as Supreme Guide in 1980 as a result of poor health and due to repeated government victories in the Islamic uprising in Syria.

He still consults with the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood on Syria related issues.

Achievements

• He was the second Supreme Guide of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, taking over from its founder, Mustafa al-Siba'i, in 1961.