Mohammad Faris, also known as the 'Armstrong of the Arab World,' and Syria's only astronaut, has died at the age of 72 in exile in the Turkish city of Gaziantep. Faris passed away due to complications from a heart attack he suffered a month ago, as confirmed by a close friend.
In 1987, Faris, a pilot in the Syrian Air Force, made history by spending eight days in space with the Soviet Union's Interkosmos spaceflight program. He flew with a Soviet crew to the Mir space station, becoming the first and only Syrian astronaut and the second Arab to venture into space.
Faris's journey to space was a moment of national pride for Syrians, with former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad speaking to him live on state TV during his space mission. Faris's response, expressing his love for his country, marked a turning point in his relationship with Assad.
Upon his return to Syria, Faris was hailed as a hero by the people, but tensions arose between him and Assad. Faris's request for funding to establish a national space program to inspire more Syrians was denied by Assad, leading to strained relations between the two.
Following the Syrian revolution in 2011, Faris openly opposed the Assad regime, putting himself and his family in danger. In 2012, he defected from Syria and sought refuge in Turkey, where he later gained Turkish citizenship in 2020.
Faris, who had trained in Russia before his space mission, was critical of Russia's support for the Syrian regime. He expressed regret over Moscow's involvement in supporting Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship, citing the harm caused to the Syrian people.
Mohammad Faris's legacy as Syria's pioneering astronaut and his courageous stance against oppression will be remembered by many.
