Quick Facts
Biography
Abdul Baset Al-Sarout or Abdelbasset Saroot (Arabic: عبد الباسط الساروت) is a Syrian former association football goalkeeper. He has represented Syria at U-17 and U-20 level. He is thought to be a leader of the Syrian rebels in Homs.
He is a vocal supporter of the rebels in Syria.
The Arab-speaking media network Al Jazeera have described him as a "well known icon in the Syrian uprising". All four of his brothers were killed by Syrian security forces. His uncle, Mohe Edden Al-Sarout was killed during November 2011 in Homs.
Sarout reportedly kissed a murdered 19-year-old protestor's bloody head whilst a crowd chanted to the beat of a drum "Sleep easy we will continue the struggle... mothers weep for Syria's youth"
Al-Sarout is thought to have survived at least three assassination attempts.
Al-Sarout was featured in Talal Derki's 2013 war documentary The Return to Homs.
As of November 2015, Sarout is still a respected leader of the Syrian revolution and commands the Shuhada al-Bayada rebel group, which has come into conflict with Jabhat al-Nusra, the Al-Qaeda branch in Syria after Al-Nusra attacked Sarout and his men over a claim that Sarout has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.