Not only has the reign of former dictator Bashar al-Assad in Syria come to an end, but apparently also his marriage: his wife Asma, who was at the side of the ‘Butcher of Damascus’ for 24 years, wants to divorce him and go to England, according to media reports.
Two weeks have passed since the fall of al-Assad; he is now in Russia with his wife. But the former first lady doesn’t want to stay there for long. As “The Jerusalem Post” reported, the 49-year-old, who grew up in Britain, wants to move to London.
Asma al-Assad had previously stated that he was dissatisfied with Moscow. She is said to have turned to a Russian court with a request to leave the country. The reason she gave was urgent medical treatment; according to the report, the application is currently under investigation.
The 49-year-old has British and Syrian citizenship. She has Syrian parents, but was born in London. She only moved to Syria in 2000 and married Assad at the age of 25.
Asma al-Assad is said to be seriously ill
Assad’s wife is suffering from cancer, his office announced this spring. It is acute myeloid leukemia – an aggressive cancer of the bone marrow and blood. She was unable to attend public appointments for a while. The former first lady had previously survived breast cancer – it was announced in 2019 that she had survived.
Asylum under strict restrictions
Shortly before capturing the Syrian capital, al-Assad hastily fled to Russia, where he was granted asylum. His wife and three adult children were already waiting for him in Moscow. The former ruler is under strict restrictions with his ally Vladimir Putin: he is not allowed to leave Moscow or engage in political activities. In addition, his assets were frozen – including 270 kilos of gold, two billion dollars and 18 apartments in Moscow.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
