BBC world affairs editor John Simpson (Image: BBC)
BBC journalist John Simpson is facing a backlash after branding deposed Syrian dictator Bashar Assad as "weak rather than wicked".
The corporation's world affairs editor made the comment on X after the overthrow of the Syrian leader over the weekend.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Syrian rebels 'capture third major city' as rumours swirl 'Assad's gone missing'
75 Comments
Syria's deposed President Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia
292 Comments
Assad's British wife - and the ￡1m home on an ordinary London street the family still own
4 Comments
Britain should be on red alert for another wave of refugees after Assad falls
290 Comments
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's ￡1.5bn fortune - and what happens to it now
79 Comments
Syrian rebels capture Damascus and launch hunt for leader Bashar al-Assad
114 Comments
Why Bashar al-Assad's forces were no match for rebels who stormed Aleppo
5 Comments
Russia urges citizens to flee Syria as Islamist rebels prepare for 'mother of all battles'
158 Comments
I visited Shamima Begum's camp - I fear Syria chaos could see her set free
19 Comments
Assad's plane 'disappears' while fleeing Syria sparking fears it's been shot down
450 Comments
Calamity Keir Starmer is dithering yet again and risks alienating powerful ally
1652 Comments
Home Office 'may remove' Syrian rebels behind Assad's downfall from terror list
19 Comments
Iran is teetering on the brink - why this could make regime more dangerous than ever
36 Comments
Keir Starmer is crushing our alliance with the US and making us unsafe
144 Comments
Assad's palace 'filled with sportscars' including Ferraris, Aston Martins, Rolls-Royces
49 Comments
Assad's palace stormed as dictator flees Syria after rebels take Damascus
16 Comments
Chaos in Damascus as buildings set alight and people loot bags of money from central bank
44 Comments
Syria emergency search as 'thousands' feared to be trapped underground at notorious prison
14 Comments
Syria facing collapse as 'Assad denies family has fled' while rebels reach Damascus
116 Comments
Fears explode that Syria could become 'base for global jihad' after Assad's defeat
33 Comments
Syrian rebels 'capture third major city' as rumours swirl 'Assad's gone missing'
75 Comments
Syria's deposed President Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia
292 Comments
Assad's British wife - and the ￡1m home on an ordinary London street the family still own
4 Comments
Britain should be on red alert for another wave of refugees after Assad falls
290 Comments
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's ￡1.5bn fortune - and what happens to it now
79 Comments
Syrian rebels capture Damascus and launch hunt for leader Bashar al-Assad
114 Comments
Why Bashar al-Assad's forces were no match for rebels who stormed Aleppo
5 Comments
Russia urges citizens to flee Syria as Islamist rebels prepare for 'mother of all battles'
158 Comments
I visited Shamima Begum's camp - I fear Syria chaos could see her set free
19 Comments
Assad's plane 'disappears' while fleeing Syria sparking fears it's been shot down
450 Comments
Calamity Keir Starmer is dithering yet again and risks alienating powerful ally
1652 Comments
Home Office 'may remove' Syrian rebels behind Assad's downfall from terror list
19 Comments
Iran is teetering on the brink - why this could make regime more dangerous than ever
36 Comments
Keir Starmer is crushing our alliance with the US and making us unsafe
144 Comments
Assad's palace 'filled with sportscars' including Ferraris, Aston Martins, Rolls-Royces
49 Comments
Assad's palace stormed as dictator flees Syria after rebels take Damascus
16 Comments
Chaos in Damascus as buildings set alight and people loot bags of money from central bank
44 Comments
Syria emergency search as 'thousands' feared to be trapped underground at notorious prison
14 Comments
Syria facing collapse as 'Assad denies family has fled' while rebels reach Damascus
116 Comments
Fears explode that Syria could become 'base for global jihad' after Assad's defeat
33 Comments
Syrian rebels 'capture third major city' as rumours swirl 'Assad's gone missing'
75 Comments
Syria's deposed President Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia
292 Comments
Assad's British wife - and the ￡1m home on an ordinary London street the family still own
4 Comments
Britain should be on red alert for another wave of refugees after Assad falls
290 Comments
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's ￡1.5bn fortune - and what happens to it now
79 Comments
Syrian rebels capture Damascus and launch hunt for leader Bashar al-Assad
114 Comments
Why Bashar al-Assad's forces were no match for rebels who stormed Aleppo
5 Comments
Writing on X, Mr Simpson said: "Bashar al-Assad has done many evil things, but he's weak rather than wicked.
"His family members, Iran and especially Russia told him what to do, and he feebly did it.
"In person, I found him meek and anxious to please — the reverse of the traditional dictator."
Bashar al-Asad has done many evil things, but he’s weak rather than wicked. His family members, Iran and especially Russia told him what to do, and he feebly did it. In person, I found him meek and anxious to please — the reverse of the traditional dictator.
— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) December 8, 2024
Don't miss... Bashar al-Assad location confirmed as Russia breaks silence on Putin's move [LATEST]
But critics including former Tory minister Robert Halfon and broadcaster Piers Morgan criticised Mr Simpson's tweet.
Mr Halfon said: "This is a disgraceful tweet… Assad is the dictator who imprisoned thousands and massacred many many more of his own people using chemical weapons."
Mr Morgan added: "Try telling the people he tortured, murdered and unleashed chemical weapons on, that he isn't wicked…"
Conservative commentator Tim Montgomerie said: "Shame on you Mr Simpson, shame on you."
LBC host Iain Dale added: "Oh dear."
Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad (Image: Getty)
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Ex-Tory MP Tim Loughton said Mr Simpson "has a point, albeit badly made".
He said: "Having met Assad, a most unlikely softly spoken tyrant, more so his JP Morgan banker wife, John has a point, albeit badly made.
"Never clear who really ran the country but appalling crimes against humanity happened on his watch, which he never left, and that wickedness is on him."
Responding to the outrage, Mr Simpson said: "I'm not defending Assad, I'm trying to explain the precise nature of his crimes."
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Syrian rebels 'capture third major city' as rumours swirl 'Assad's gone missing'
75 Comments
Syria's deposed President Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia
292 Comments
Assad's British wife - and the ￡1m home on an ordinary London street the family still own
4 Comments
Britain should be on red alert for another wave of refugees after Assad falls
290 Comments
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's ￡1.5bn fortune - and what happens to it now
79 Comments
Syrian rebels capture Damascus and launch hunt for leader Bashar al-Assad
114 Comments
Why Bashar al-Assad's forces were no match for rebels who stormed Aleppo
5 Comments
Russia urges citizens to flee Syria as Islamist rebels prepare for 'mother of all battles'
158 Comments
I visited Shamima Begum's camp - I fear Syria chaos could see her set free
19 Comments
Assad's plane 'disappears' while fleeing Syria sparking fears it's been shot down
450 Comments
Calamity Keir Starmer is dithering yet again and risks alienating powerful ally
1652 Comments
Home Office 'may remove' Syrian rebels behind Assad's downfall from terror list
19 Comments
Iran is teetering on the brink - why this could make regime more dangerous than ever
36 Comments
Keir Starmer is crushing our alliance with the US and making us unsafe
144 Comments
Assad's palace 'filled with sportscars' including Ferraris, Aston Martins, Rolls-Royces
49 Comments
Assad's palace stormed as dictator flees Syria after rebels take Damascus
16 Comments
Chaos in Damascus as buildings set alight and people loot bags of money from central bank
44 Comments
Syria emergency search as 'thousands' feared to be trapped underground at notorious prison
14 Comments
Syria facing collapse as 'Assad denies family has fled' while rebels reach Damascus
116 Comments
Fears explode that Syria could become 'base for global jihad' after Assad's defeat
33 Comments
Syrian rebels 'capture third major city' as rumours swirl 'Assad's gone missing'
75 Comments
Syria's deposed President Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia
292 Comments
Assad's British wife - and the ￡1m home on an ordinary London street the family still own
4 Comments
Britain should be on red alert for another wave of refugees after Assad falls
290 Comments
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's ￡1.5bn fortune - and what happens to it now
79 Comments
Syrian rebels capture Damascus and launch hunt for leader Bashar al-Assad
114 Comments
Why Bashar al-Assad's forces were no match for rebels who stormed Aleppo
5 Comments
Russia urges citizens to flee Syria as Islamist rebels prepare for 'mother of all battles'
158 Comments
I visited Shamima Begum's camp - I fear Syria chaos could see her set free
19 Comments
Assad's plane 'disappears' while fleeing Syria sparking fears it's been shot down
450 Comments
Calamity Keir Starmer is dithering yet again and risks alienating powerful ally
1652 Comments
Home Office 'may remove' Syrian rebels behind Assad's downfall from terror list
19 Comments
Iran is teetering on the brink - why this could make regime more dangerous than ever
36 Comments
Keir Starmer is crushing our alliance with the US and making us unsafe
144 Comments
Assad's palace 'filled with sportscars' including Ferraris, Aston Martins, Rolls-Royces
49 Comments
Assad's palace stormed as dictator flees Syria after rebels take Damascus
16 Comments
Chaos in Damascus as buildings set alight and people loot bags of money from central bank
44 Comments
Syria emergency search as 'thousands' feared to be trapped underground at notorious prison
14 Comments
Syria facing collapse as 'Assad denies family has fled' while rebels reach Damascus
116 Comments
Fears explode that Syria could become 'base for global jihad' after Assad's defeat
33 Comments
Syrian rebels 'capture third major city' as rumours swirl 'Assad's gone missing'
75 Comments
Syria's deposed President Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia
292 Comments
Assad's British wife - and the ￡1m home on an ordinary London street the family still own
4 Comments
Britain should be on red alert for another wave of refugees after Assad falls
290 Comments
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's ￡1.5bn fortune - and what happens to it now
79 Comments
Syrian rebels capture Damascus and launch hunt for leader Bashar al-Assad
114 Comments
Why Bashar al-Assad's forces were no match for rebels who stormed Aleppo
5 Comments
It comes as Mr Assad has been granted asylum by Russia after a coalition of rebels seized control of the capital Damascus in a lightning offensive overnight on Sunday.
Syrians are celebrating the demise of Assad government, after 13 years of civil war sparked by the president's violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters following the Arab Spring.
The BBC was contacted for comment.