Abdul Rauf al-Kasm

Abdul Rauf al-Kasm (Arabic: عبد الرؤوف الكسم, romanized: ʿAbd ar-Raʾūf al-Kasm) (born 1932) is a Syrian architect, academic and politician who served as prime minister of Syria during the 1980s.

Abdul Rauf al-Kasm
عبد الرؤوف الكسم
Kasm in 1981
Prime Minister of Syria
In office 9 January 1980 – 1 November 1987
President	Hafez al-Assad
Preceded by	Muhammad Ali al-Halabi
Succeeded by	Mahmoud Zuabi
Governor of Damascus
In office 1979–1980
President	Hafez al-Assad
Preceded by	Farouk al-Hamwi
Succeeded by	Mohamed Sioufi
Personal details
Born	1932 (age 92–93) Damascus, Syria
Political party	Ba'ath Party
Other political affiliations	National Progressive Front

Early life

Kasm was born in Damascus in a Sunni family in 1932.^[1][2][3] Abdul Rauf was the second son of Muhammad Atallah al-Kasm, a Damascene scholar and mufti from 1918 until his death in 1938.

Career

Kasm was professor of architecture at Damascus University. He was a member of the Baath Party.^[2] He served as Prime Minister of Syria from 9 January 1980 to 1 November 1987 under the presidency of Hafez al-Assad.^[1] Enjoying full support of president Assad, Kasm tried to end corruption by senior officers. However, his clash with then defense minister Mustafa Tlass led to his removal from office in 1987.^[2] After leaving office, he served as a senior consultant for national security.