Overview
- Al Jazeera confirmed his death on January 4 and released a detailed tribute from Director-General Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal Al Thani.
- The statement praised Azar as a distinguished linguist whose work set newsroom standards and shaped generations of journalists.
- Born in al-Husn, Irbid, Jordan in 1937, he spent 1965 to 1996 at BBC World Service Arabic as a translator, presenter, and editor.
- He joined Al Jazeera at its July 30, 1996 launch, serving as chief anchor and editor-in-chief and hosting The Week in the News before stepping down in 2011.
- Al Jazeera listed his age as 89, some outlets reported 88, and reports say he is survived by his wife and two children.