Asma al-Assad, the British-born former first lady of Syria, has fled to Moscow with her husband, Bashar al-Assad, and their three children following the fall of his regime.
UK officials have stated that she is no longer welcome to return to the country, despite holding British citizenship.
Asma al-Assad, 49, once celebrated for her glamour and advocacy for women’s rights in the Middle East, has seen her reputation diminish due to her support for her husband’s regime during Syria’s civil war.
Reports from Russian state media indicate that the family sought refuge in Moscow after rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad from power, though the Kremlin has not confirmed this.
The UK Foreign Minister, David Lammy, confirmed in parliament that Asma remains a sanctioned individual and emphasized her exclusion from the UK.
Her UK assets were frozen in 2012 as part of European sanctions against Syria, and there are discussions about the possibility of revoking her British citizenship.
Born and raised in London, Asma attended local schools and later graduated from King’s College with a degree in computer science and French literature.
She worked in finance before marrying Bashar al-Assad in 2000.
Once celebrated by Western media, including a Vogue profile dubbing her the “Desert Rose,” her image deteriorated following her support for her husband during Syria’s brutal conflict.
Critics have accused her of enriching herself through the Syria Trust for Development and exploiting the country’s resources during the war.
In 2020, the United States imposed sanctions on Asma, labeling her “one of Syria’s most notorious war profiteers.”
As the Assad family settles in Moscow, UK officials continue to monitor the situation, while calls grow for stronger measures against individuals linked to the Syrian regime.