Riyad al-Turk

Riyad al-Turk (born 1930 in Homs) is a Syrian communist and intellectual who is considered the "grandfather" of the Syrian opposition movement.

He joined the Syrian Communist Party in 1955 and wrote articles for the party newspaper. He split with SCP leader Khalid Bakdash when Bakdash decided merge the party into the National Progressive Front, a coalition of organizations allied with the ruling Arab Baath Socialist Party. As a result, in 1973 Turk formed the Syrian Democratic People's Party (called the Syrian Communist Party [Political Bureau] until May 2005), which remained in opposition. He was a political prisoner from 28 October 1980 to 30 May 1998.

External link

• Dossier: Riyad al-Turk by Gary C. Gambill for the Middle East Intelligence Bulletin