Zuheir Mohsen - Early Life

Early Life

Mohsen was born in Tulkarm on the West Bank, where his father was the town mukhtar. He became involved in political activity at a young age, joining the Ba'ath party at the age of 17. Mohsen trained as a teacher but in 1957 lost his job after being arrested for 'subversive activity': he subsequently spent time in Qatar, from where he was eventually deported as a result of his political activity, before making his way to Damascus where he helped form as-Sa'iqa.

Mohsen rose to the position of heading as-Sa'iqa thanks to his close links to Assad, who after taking power in Syria purged the movement of its leftist elements (bringing it ideologically closer to Fatah) and appointed Mohsen as its General Secretary.

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