Weeks after the collapse of the oppressive government of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, news is emerging that his UK-born wife, Asma al-Assad, has filed for divorce and is preparing to move to Britain. The Syrian former president fled the country and sought refuge in Russia after rebel forces swiftly took control of the Syrian capital, Damascus. Russia, a longtime ally of the Assad regime, granted asylum to him and his wife on humanitarian grounds.
Who is Asma al-Assad?
Asma Fawaz al-Assad was born to Syrian parents in London, UK. She was raised there and holds dual UK and Syrian citizenship. Asma married Bashar al-Assad in December 2000, shortly after he assumed the presidency of Syria. She graduated from King’s College London in 1996 with degrees in computer science and French literature.
Before her marriage, Asma worked in the field of investment banking and had plans to pursue an MBA at Harvard University. However, she left her career following the marriage and settled in Syria, where the couple raised their three children. As Syria’s First Lady, Asma played a prominent role in supporting government initiatives for social and economic development—efforts that were later derailed by the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.
What Are the Rumors of Divorce Between Her and Bashar al-Assad?
The 49-year-old Asma al-Assad, once seen as a symbol of elegance and a key player in Bashar al-Assad’s administration, is reportedly seeking permission from Russian authorities to leave the country and return to her hometown in London. Once celebrated by European media as the “Rose of the Desert,” Asma al-Assad now faces a much different reality.
According to unverified reports, Asma, who has been diagnosed with leukaemia, has filed two petitions with a Russian court: one for divorce and another requesting authorization to leave Russia. Russian officials are reportedly evaluating her requests.
Sources suggest that Asma is eager to return to the UK to access better medical treatment. Her mother, Sahar al-Akhras, a former Syrian diplomat and UK citizen, is said to have enlisted the help of major UK law firms to facilitate her daughter’s return. Asma reportedly claims that the medical care she is receiving in Moscow is inadequate. These divorce rumors further complicate the challenges facing Bashar al-Assad, who has already lost his grip on power after years of authoritarian rule.
Role of Asma al-Assad in Supporting the Assad Regime
Asma al-Assad, alongside her husband, was considered one of the most significant economic powerbrokers in Syria. The couple allegedly controlled substantial portions of Syria’s business sectors, including telecommunications, banking, real estate, and maritime enterprises.
Due to the ongoing Syrian civil war, which began in March 2011, Asma became subject to EU sanctions targeting high-ranking Syrian government officials. These measures made it illegal for her to receive material or financial support within the EU, restricted her ability to obtain certain goods, and significantly limited her travel within Europe.
In the UK, she became the subject of a preliminary investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes division. This probe examined allegations that linked her to the “systematic process of torture and killing of civilians, including the use of chemical weapons,” as well as the incitement of terrorist actions.
Asma was criticized for her silence in the early stages of the Syrian uprising. Her first official statement to international media came in February 2012, nearly a year after major protests erupted. In an email to The Times, she stated, “The President is the President of Syria, not a faction of Syrians, and the First Lady supports him in that position.”
Despite EU sanctions, Asma retained her ability to travel to the UK due to her citizenship. However, she was rarely seen in public after the Syrian Military Intelligence Directorate incident, leading to speculation that she had fled Damascus or even the country.
By 2020, analysts observed that Asma had begun consolidating her influence within the Syrian government. She reportedly placed close associates in powerful positions, especially within the development sector during the 2020 Syrian parliamentary elections. As a result, her growing political clout suggested that she might continue to play a crucial role in Syria’s political landscape.
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