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Bashir

Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir (born 1 January 1944) is a Sudanese former military officer and politician who ruled the country as leader from 1989 until his overthrow in 2019, holding the title of president from October 1993 onward. He came to power through a military coup on 30 June 1989 that ousted the elected , establishing the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation and suspending the constitution while imposing . Al-Bashir's 30-year tenure involved enforcing strict Shari'ah law from 1991, prosecuting a against southern rebels that displaced millions until a agreement led to South Sudan's independence in , and enlisting Arab militias known as to combat insurgents from 2003, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of over two million people. In response to the atrocities attributed to his government and allied forces, the issued arrest warrants against him in March 2009 for five counts of and two counts of war crimes, followed by a July 2010 warrant adding three counts of , marking the first time the targeted a sitting . His regime also held Sudan's first multiparty elections in 2010 since the 1980s, though these were widely criticized for irregularities that ensured his reelection. Facing mounting protests over corruption, inflation, and repression—exacerbated by the 2018 removal of fuel subsidies—al-Bashir declared a state of emergency in February 2019, but was deposed on 11 April 2019 in a military coup led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, after which he was arrested, convicted of corruption in December 2019 with a two-year sentence, and faced ongoing trials for incitement to violence against demonstrators and his role in the 1989 coup. While al-Bashir's government expelled Osama bin Laden in 1996 under U.S. pressure and pursued some economic privatizations, his rule is defined by authoritarian control, economic decline amid international sanctions, and systematic abuses that drew global isolation, including non-cooperation with the ICC warrants which Sudan has not enforced.

Etymology and Usage

Origin and Meaning

Bashir originates from Arabic, derived from the triliteral root b-sh-r (ب-ش-ر), denoting the act of conveying positive announcements or glad tidings. The term specifically connotes "bringer of good news" or "harbinger," reflecting a role of heralding favorable developments. This etymological foundation ties to verbal forms like bashshara, emphasizing proactive dissemination of beneficial information. In Islamic scriptural and traditional contexts, Bashir carries prophetic undertones, serving as an for figures who announce divine or salvific messages, including an attribute applied to as a bearer of prophethood's glad tidings. Such usage underscores causal links between the name and themes of and in religious narratives, without extending to interpretive beyond textual attestation. As a , Bashir functions predominantly as a masculine and across Arabic-speaking regions and Muslim-majority populations, with orthographic variants such as Basheer, Bechir, Bachir, and compounded forms like Al-Bashir incorporating the definite article for emphasis on the descriptor. These adaptations maintain the core semantic integrity while accommodating phonetic and regional linguistic preferences.

People

Political Figures

Omar al-Bashir, a Sudanese military officer, led a coup on June 30, 1989, that overthrew the democratically elected government of , establishing the National Salvation Revolution and assuming the role of . He formally became president on October 16, 1993, and governed until his ouster on April 11, 2019, following widespread protests that began in December 2018 over economic hardships and corruption. The issued an against him on March 4, 2009, for war crimes and related to the conflict, followed by a second warrant on July 12, 2010, adding charges of . Mohammed al-Bashir was appointed as Syria's caretaker on December 10, 2024, by rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham after their rapid offensive toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, 2024. Prior to this, he had served as prime minister of the Syrian Salvation Government, an administration controlling province under HTS auspices, since January 13, 2024. Al-Bashir is tasked with leading the transitional government until March 1, 2025, focusing on restoring order, maintaining public services, and preparing for elections amid ongoing security challenges.

Journalists and Media Personalities

(born January 19, 1963) is a British journalist recognized for high-profile interviews conducted during his tenure at the and other networks. He began his career as a freelance sports reporter before joining the in 1986, where he hosted investigative programs such as Public Eye and contributed to . Bashir gained international prominence in 1995 for securing an exclusive interview with , in which she discussed the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles, famously stating, "there were three of us in this marriage—so it was a bit crowded." The interview, viewed by 23 million people in the UK alone, marked a significant moment in royal scrutiny but later faced revelations of unethical procurement methods. An independent inquiry commissioned by the and chaired by Lord Dyson, published on May 20, 2021, determined that Bashir deceived 's brother, Charles Spencer, by using forged bank statements to falsely imply that royal aides were being paid by security services to spy on her, thereby gaining introductions to . The report criticized Bashir's actions as "far from the standards of integrity expected of the " and found that senior management failed to investigate initial allegations of deceit at the time, allowing a culture of to persist. Bashir admitted to using "rough tactics" but maintained they were not central to securing ; however, the inquiry rejected this, noting the fabrications deliberately played on 's . In response to the findings, Bashir resigned from the in May 2023 after 10 years as religious affairs correspondent, amid ongoing scrutiny including the release of over 3,000 internal emails in 2024 that further highlighted institutional lapses rather than exonerating his methods. Beyond the , Bashir's career included stints at , where he interviewed in 2003 for the documentary , which drew 20 million viewers and led to Jackson's child molestation charges (though Bashir was not directly involved in legal proceedings). He later worked in the United States for and , hosting Martin Bashir at the Weekend from 2010 to 2013, during which he faced backlash for inflammatory on-air comments, such as suggesting critics of "ought to be dipped in urine" in 2008. These incidents underscored a pattern of provocative , though his defenders, including Bashir himself in 2024 emails, attributed some criticism to professional jealousy and his ethnic background as a son of Pakistani immigrants. Despite the controversies, Bashir's interviews demonstrated his skill in eliciting candid responses from public figures, influencing broadcast standards on celebrity accountability. Other journalists named Bashir include Nada Bashir, an Emmy-winning CNN international correspondent based in since around 2015, who has reported on conflicts in , , and natural disasters in and , earning recognition for on-the-ground coverage amid high-risk environments. Her work focuses on factual reporting from conflict zones without the personal scandals associated with 's profile. Less prominent figures, such as Palestinian reporter Salman al-Bashir, have gained attention for emotional live broadcasts, including a 2023 on-air breakdown while reporting a colleague's death in , highlighting the perils faced by journalists in war zones. These individuals represent diverse contributions to global media, though Martin Bashir remains the most scrutinized for blending journalistic impact with documented ethical breaches.

Entertainers, Athletes, and Other Professionals

is an , , and born and raised on the South Side of , . He co-created the and series South Side (2019–2022), in which he starred as Officer Goodnight across 28 episodes while serving as and executive producer. Shoaib Bashir, born October 13, 2003, in , , is an English professional cricketer who bowls right-arm off-break and plays for and the national team. Despite having only three first-class matches under his belt, he earned a surprise selection to England's Test squad for the five-match series in starting January 2024. Bashir made his Test debut in that series on February 2, 2024, in , and went on to claim 49 wickets across 15 Test appearances in 2024, marking a rapid ascent in international cricket.

Places

Historical and Archaeological Sites

Qasr Bshir, anciently known as Mobene, stands as the principal historical and archaeological site associated with the name Bashir, comprising a remarkably preserved fort in the arid lands of central , approximately 80 kilometers south of and 15 kilometers northwest of modern el-Qatrana. Constructed between 293 and 305 amid the Tetrarchic reforms of Emperor , the structure served as a quadriburgium—a small, square fortress—within the Limes Arabicus, the Empire's eastern frontier system aimed at monitoring and repelling nomadic incursions from the eastern . Its strategic placement on elevated terrain provided visibility over the valley and surrounding plains, facilitating patrols and signaling along the strata Diocletiana road network. The fort's architecture exemplifies late military engineering tailored for frontier defense, measuring roughly 57 by 54 meters with walls 1.5 meters thick rising to about 6 meters in height, excluding the crenellated rampart. Four prominent corner towers, each 11 to 12 meters square and projecting outward, flanked the perimeter, while the main southwestern gateway featured flanking towers and an original Latin inscription dedicating the work to , , , and —remains of which are cracked but , offering direct epigraphic evidence of its Tetrarchic origins. Internal layouts included a central encircled by 26 ground-floor rooms, 23 of which contained mangers indicative of stables for a ala (wing) of up to 150 horses and riders, such as the ala II Miliarensis, with upper stories housing and two internal cisterns for . A gate and traces of a possible underscore its self-sufficiency in a remote, low-rainfall (near the 200 mm isohyet line). Archaeological assessments confirm the site's occupation through the fourth century CE, with abandonment likely in the early fifth century, followed by limited Umayyad-era reuse evidenced by machicolations and nearby tribal graffiti, though it escaped major later reconstruction— a factor in its exceptional preservation as the finest surviving Roman fort in the Middle East. Excavations have revealed structural integrity in the curtain walls and towers (up to 20 feet high in places), with no significant overlay from subsequent civilizations, highlighting empirical markers of Roman construction techniques like ashlar masonry and spiral staircases. Ongoing conservation efforts, including the Qasr Bshir Conservation Project initiated in 2022 under royal Jordanian patronage, address erosion from wind and seismic activity, employing structural analysis to stabilize features like the inscription slab while preserving its status as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site for its testimony to imperial frontier causality and defensive realism.

Modern Settlements

Bashir is a village situated approximately 25 kilometers (16 miles) south of in northern , primarily inhabited by Shia residents. The settlement gained attention during regional instability when it was seized by forces in mid-2014, remaining under their control amid ongoing conflicts in the area. In , Bashir refers to a small rural village in Zarnaq District, , at coordinates 38°15′01″N 46°39′38″E and an elevation of about 1,846 meters. The 2006 Iranian census recorded its population at 268 individuals across 59 households.

Other Uses

Fictional Characters

is a central fictional character in the television series , portrayed by as the station's chief medical officer, a role he assumes upon arriving at Deep Space Nine in the series pilot episode "Emissary," which aired on , 1993. Initially presented as an enthusiastic and somewhat naive young Human physician fresh from Starfleet Medical Academy, where he ranked second in his class, Bashir's character embodies themes of medical innovation and personal ambition amid interstellar conflicts. Throughout the series, which ran from 1993 to 1999, Bashir's narrative arcs deepen, particularly following the revelation in season 5's "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" that he underwent illegal genetic enhancement as a to boost his cognitive abilities, a procedure performed by his parents to address developmental delays. This enhancement, enhancing his intellect and reflexes beyond standard limits, positions him as a genetically augmented individual in a that prohibits such modifications, leading to ethical dilemmas and professional repercussions, including temporary resignation from . Bashir's storylines frequently intersect with espionage and moral ambiguity, such as his covert collaborations with the Cardassian tailor , involving intelligence operations during the Dominion War, as explored in episodes like "" from season 4, where he simulates a James Bond-like scenario in the station's . These elements highlight his evolution from an optimistic doctor focused on healing to a figure grappling with the consequences of superior abilities in high-stakes scenarios, all grounded in the series' canonical portrayal of principles versus wartime necessities.

Miscellaneous References

Waltz with Bashir (Hebrew: Vals im Bashir) is a 2008 Israeli animated written and directed by . The work uses to reconstruct Folman's fragmented memories of his service in the , focusing on the , and culminates in real footage of the events. It received critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, and sparked debate over its portrayal of historical trauma, leading to a ban in due to sensitivities surrounding Bashir Gemayel, the Phalange leader whose preceded the massacre.

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