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Turkiye educated Esaad Hasan Shinabi appointed top diplomat in Syria

December 23, 2024 at 8:27 pm

The Turkish flag is raised at Turkish Embassy as the mission resumed operations following a hiatus of 12 years in Damascus, Syria on December 14, 2024. [Emin Sansar – Anadolu Agency]

Once a refugee seeking asylum in Turkiye, Esaad Hasan Shibani has written an inspiring story of success by being appointed as Syria’s new foreign minister.

The ruling General Command on Saturday named Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister, Syrian News Agency (SANA) reports.

Esaad Hasan Shibani fled to Turkiye with his family in 2012 following the outbreak of the civil war in Syria. Despite the harsh living conditions, Shibani remained steadfast in his commitment to education. He pursued a degree in international relations at a Turkish university, honing his language skills and gaining recognition for his academic excellence.

Shibani enrolled at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University in the 2018-2019 academic year and graduated from the Master’s Program in Political Science and International Relations (English) in 2022.

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According to AA, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Acar, the Rector of Sabahattin Zaim University: “Esaad Hasan Şeybani completed his undergraduate education in the Department of English Language and Literature in Syria and is currently one of our postgraduate students. Recently, he was appointed as the foreign minister of the newly established Syrian Government. Of course, the fact that our student has become the foreign minister makes us all proud. Therefore, we congratulate him on his new position and wish him success in his efforts for the unity, integrity, and freedom of Syria.”

“Shibani’s remarkable rise not only opened a new chapter in Syria’s reconstruction process but also challenged prejudices surrounding the refugee crisis,” he added.

After completing his studies, Shibani worked on refugee-focused projects for the United Nations and various non-governmental organisations.

These roles provided him with valuable field experience and established his reputation as a prominent figure in international diplomacy.

Syria’s government, embracing a policy of integrating young leaders during its reconstruction phase, appointed Shibani to the ministry of foreign affairs.

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