Abdul Baset al-Sarout
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | January 2, 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Syria | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| ?–2011 | Al-Karamah SC | ||
| National team | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2008 | Syria U17 | ||
| 2009–2010 | Syria U20 | ||
| Abdul Baset al-Sarout | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance |
 Syrian opposition |
| Years of service | 2012–2015 |
| Unit | Bayada Martyrs' Brigade[1] |
| Battles/wars | |
Abdul Baset al-Sarout (Arabic: عبد الباسط الساروت) is a former Syrian association football goalkeeper. He represented Syria at the U-17 and U-20 level. During the Siege of Homs from 2011 to 2014, he became a Syrian rebel commander.
Since 2012, he is a vocal supporter of the rebels in Syria.[2]
The Arab-speaking media network Al Jazeera have described him as a "well known icon in the Syrian uprising".[3] All four of his brothers were killed by Syrian security forces. His uncle, Mohe Edden al-Sarout, was killed during November 2011 in Homs.[4]
Sarout reportedly kissed a murdered 19-year-old protestor's whilst a crowd chanted.[5]
Al-Sarout survived at least three assassination attempts during his role as a rebel commander. During one attempt, 50 fighters from his unit, the Bayada Martyrs' Brigade, were killed.[1]
Al-Sarout was featured in the 2013 war documentary The Return to Homs.[6]
In November 2015, al-Sarout and the Bayada Martyrs' Brigade came into conflict with al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front. Nusra attacked Sarout and his fighters over a claim that Sarout has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. [7]
On 29 May 2017, Sarout was arrested by Tahrir al-Sham after being accused of participating in an anti-HTS protest in Maarat al-Nu'man.[8] He was released on 24 June and charges against him dropped.[9]
References
- 1 2 "Document: rebel commander robs 2.3 Million $ allocated to break Homs Siege". Zaman al-Wasl. 16 June 2014.
- ↑ "London 2012 Olympics: Syrian goalkeeper takes a stand in Homs as national side aim for Olympics". Telegraph. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ↑ "Abdul Baset Al Sarout Live Blog". AlJazeera.net. 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ↑ "Syria reacts to Arab League suspension - Sunday 13 November 2011". Guardian. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
- ↑ "Syrian secret police defect, Arab deadline looms". reuters.com. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
- ↑ "The Return To Homs". Proaction/Ventana Films. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ↑ "Nusra turns guns on rebels in effort to capture ‘only corridor’ into blockaded north Homs". Syria Direct. 4 November 2015.
- ↑ "Front victory arrest Abdul Baset Al-Sarout on charges of incitement". Al Etihad Press. 30 May 2017.
- ↑ ""Edit Sham" acquits Abdel Basset Alsarut". Enab Baladi. 24 June 2017.