Who is the Stylish Wife of the 'Damascus Executioner'? A Look at Asma Assad's Life

The fall of Bashar Assad's regime marked the end of Asma Assad's 25-year position as his controversial wife; a woman who stood beside her husband during years of bloody civil war, dressed in fashionable clothes and wearing a calm smile. Asma Assad (al-Akhras) was born in 1975 in London to a wealthy family. She studied computer science and investment and worked as a financial analyst. In 2000, coinciding with Bashar Assad's rise to power, she married him and moved to Damascus as the First Lady of Syria. By participating in social and charitable projects and wearing trendy and expensive brand clothes, she presented herself as a modern and progressive figure. With the onset of the bloody civil war in Syria from 2011, Asma Assad continued to stand by her husband, who was accused of committing war crimes, and tried to portray an image of stability and calm in Syria. Asma's life, especially her choice of luxurious clothing and lifestyle while her country was embroiled in a bloody civil war and humanitarian crisis, has repeatedly been the subject of media reports and public criticism. In 2018, it was announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. A year later, she announced that she had been treated and returned to normal life. However, last June, the Syrian presidential office announced that she had been diagnosed with blood cancer and was undergoing treatment. In the past two years, Asma Assad has accompanied Bashar Assad on trips to China and the UAE. After the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, she had not left the country for years. Following the fall of her husband's dictatorship, Asma Assad fled to Russia with her family.