Nureddin al-Atassi

Nureddin Mustafa Ali al-Atassi (, 11 January 1929 – 3 December 1992) was a Syrian politician who served as the president of Syria from 1966 to 1970. Atassi was the first Syrian president to address the United Nations General Assembly, and the only one until Ahmed al-Sharaa did so in September 2025.

Early life and education Nureddin Al-Atassi, born in 1929 in Homs to an Arab family, and belonged to the renowned Al-Atassi family. Following his mother's early death, he was brought up by his paternal grandfather, Judge Fuad Effendi al-Atassi. Surrounded by his grandfather's intellectual circles, which were populated by poets and scholars, Nureddin developed a deep admiration for Arabic poetry from an early stage in his life.

Nureddin obtained his education in schools located in Homs and actively took part in the city's protests against French colonial rule throughout his early years.

Upon fulfilling his obligatory service, Atassi offered his assistance to the Algerian revolution, rendering medical aid to revolutionaries in close proximity to the Tunisian-Algerian border. After returning to Syria, Atassi focused on general surgery at Damascus Hospital. Afterwards, he took jobs at other hospitals in Damascus. Following that, he went back to his native city of Homs, where he persisted in his medical profession, working at the National Hospital and managing his own private clinic.

Arrest and death Following the coup, Atassi, along with other government officials, was detained without undergoing a trial. He was imprisoned in Mezzeh prison in Damascus for a period of 22 years. In early 1992, Atassi suffered a severe heart attack, leading to his transfer to a military hospital. Subsequent medical examinations revealed esophageal cancer, prompting authorities to detain him in the hospital as a political prisoner. During this time, access to Atassi was restricted to his immediate family members only. Despite medical treatment, Atassi died on 3 December 1992, at the age of 63. His body was transported the following day to Homs, where he was laid to rest in the Al-Atassi family cemetery in Kafr Aya.