Asma Al-Assad: Syria?s London-born first lady not welcome in UK

Once celebrated as an advocate of women’s rights in the Middle East, Syria’s British-born former first lady, Asma al-Assad, has fled into exile with her husband. 

UK officials confirmed that she is no longer welcome in London. Asma al-Assad, 49, along with her husband and three children, sought refuge in Moscow after rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad from power, though the Kremlin has not officially confirmed the reports.

The move marks another blow to the reputation of Asma al-Assad, once known for her glamour and charm, which had been seen as a key asset to the Syrian government. Born in London in 1975, she spent much of her life in the UK, where her parents still reside in west London. Despite retaining British citizenship, UK Foreign Minister David Lammy made it clear on Monday that she is not welcome in the country. Lammy said, “I’ve seen mentioned in the last few days, that Asma Assad (is) potentially someone with UK citizenship that might attempt to come into our country, and I want it confirmed that she’s a sanctioned individual and is not welcome here in the UK.”

Asma al-Assad had her UK assets frozen in 2012 as part of European sanctions aimed at her husband’s regime. Following these sanctions, questions have arisen about the potential for her to lose her British passport. Bader Mousa Al-Saif, a researcher at Chatham House, noted, “If that could be happening to an unknown in an extremist camp, I think the same, if not more, warrants for the case of Asma al-Assad.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Monday that it was “far too early” to discuss stripping her nationality, while Minister Pat McFadden added, “We have had no contact” with the former first lady.

Asma al-Assad’s journey began in London, where she was born to cardiologist Fawaz al-Akhras and retired diplomat Sahar Otri, both from Syria. She was educated in the UK, attending Queen’s College and later King’s College, where she earned a degree in computer science and French literature before moving into finance. It was through her work in banking that she met Bashar al-Assad in the late 1990s, and they married shortly after he became president of Syria in 2000.

Initially praised for her promotion of women’s rights and her modernizing efforts as Syria’s first lady, Asma al-Assad’s reputation unravelled as her husband’s regime violently suppressed the 2011 anti-government protests, which evolved into a full-scale civil war. Critics accused her of remaining silent during the violence and profiting from the war through her Syria Trust for Development charity, which was accused of centralizing foreign donations. The US imposed sanctions on her in 2020, with then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling her “one of Syria’s most notorious war profiteers.”

Asma al-Assad’s fall from grace highlights the complex intersection of politics, personal image, and international relations, with her latest move to Russia marking a significant chapter in the ongoing Syrian conflict.