Following Bashar al-Assad’s departure from Syria in December 2024, the longstanding reign of the Assad family over the nation abruptly ended. The fall of his administration spurred a fresh round of investigations into the Assad family, with a particular focus on Bashar’s spouse, Asma al-Assad.
Prior to assuming the role of Syria’s first lady, Asma, formerly known as Emma Akhras, was a British-born financier hailing from West London. Initially portrayed by Vogue as a symbol of modernization and likened to “a rose in the desert,” she later emerged as a contentious figure within Assad’s oppressive regime.
Chloe Hadjimatheou, The Observer’s narrative editor and host of the podcast ‘We Call Her Emma,’ engages in a discussion with guest host Jason Markusoff about the evolution of Syria’s former first lady and her involvement in her husband’s rule.
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Tag: rewrite-pending
