Asma al-Assad, wife of Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad, has reportedly filed for divorce and expressed her desire to return to the United Kingdom after growing discontent with her life in exile in Moscow. According to The Jerusalem Post, citing Turkish and Arab media sources, Asma is seeking special permission from Russian authorities to leave the country, with her application currently under review.
Asma, born in London in 1975 to Syrian parents, holds dual British-Syrian citizenship. She completed her studies in computer science and French literature at King’s College London before entering the world of investment banking. She married Bashar al-Assad in December 2000, and the couple has three children: Hafez, Zein, and Karim.
Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, Asma has reportedly sought to leave Syria and reside in London with her children. However, the Assads have lived in exile in Moscow since Bashar al-Assad was deposed, following the fall of Damascus to rebel forces. The family’s grip on power, which had lasted for more than five decades, came to an end with Bashar’s flight, marking the collapse of the Assad dynasty.
Bashar al-Assad remains in Moscow under asylum, facing severe restrictions by Russian authorities. Although his asylum request has been accepted, he is not allowed to leave the city or engage in any political activities. Additionally, Russian authorities have reportedly frozen his significant assets, including $2 billion in cash, 270 kilograms of gold, and 18 properties in Moscow.
The Assad regime, originally established in 1970 by Bashar’s father Hafez al-Assad, has historically been an Alawite family in a predominantly Sunni nation. The family’s rule, which relied heavily on an inner circle of relatives in key positions, has been marked by years of repression and military dominance. Bashar’s younger brother, Maher al-Assad, commanded Syria’s Republican Guard and the 4th Armoured Division, while his first cousin, Rami Makhlouf, was the country’s wealthiest individual, controlling much of Syria’s economy.
In recent years, internal family tensions have also surfaced. Asma reportedly clashed with her sister-in-law, Bushra al-Assad, over her prominent role as Syria’s First Lady. Bushra, who had a more traditional view of the position, preferred to keep it associated with her mother, Anisa al-Assad.
Asma’s decision to file for divorce and seek a return to the UK signals a dramatic shift in her personal life amidst the ongoing crisis surrounding her husband’s regime. The future of the Assad family’s legacy remains uncertain, with Bashar al-Assad’s political standing in Russia and internationally continuing to be a point of contention.
Sources By Agencies
