On this week’s show, we’re taking a closer look at Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has been persona non grata on the world stage for years as a result of his role in Syria’s brutal civil war.
Since the war began in March 2011, more than 14 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes – roughly half leaving Syria altogether, according to figures from the UN refugee agency.
Over 300,000 civilians have died, and the Assad regime has been accused of not only locking up and torturing its opponents – it’s also been accused of using chemical weapons and barrel bombs against civilians.
But despite all of this, the regional organization of Arab states, known as the Arab League, welcomed Assad back to its ranks in May at a summit in Saudi Arabia. Critics of the regime are wondering what's behind the move.