Asma al-Assad, the wife of the ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, has officially filed for divorce, expressing her wish to relocate to the United Kingdom.
According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, which cites Turkish and Arab media sources, Asma’s dissatisfaction with her life in Moscow has led her to seek legal separation. At present, the authorities are assessing her request to leave Russia.
Born in London in 1975 to Syrian parents, Asma al-Assad holds dual citizenship in the UK and Syria. She graduated from King’s College London, where she earned computer science and French literature degrees before embarking on a career in investment banking. She married Bashar al-Assad in December 2000, and they have three children: Hafez, Zein, and Karim.
The Wife of Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Asma al-Assad, who is a British National, has reportedly filed for Divorce in Moscow while requested that Russian Authorities allow her and her Children to return to the U.K, for Urgent Medical Treatment. pic.twitter.com/grXLTf3oga
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 22, 2024Since the Syrian uprising, Asma has been looking to move to London with her children. At the same time, Bashar al-Assad has received asylum in Moscow but encounters considerable restrictions. Russian authorities have prohibited him from leaving the city or participating in political activities. They have also frozen his assets, which reportedly include 270 kilograms of gold, $2 billion in cash, and 18 properties in Moscow.
The Assad family’s rule over Syria, which lasted more than five decades, came to an end when rebel forces entered Damascus, forcing Bashar to flee. This marked a significant decline in the family’s control, historically rooted in their Alawite minority leadership over a predominantly Sunni nation. Bashar’s father, Hafez al-Assad, seized power in a 1970 military coup and maintained a tight grip on the country, often through brutal means.
The British wife of Syria’s deposed president Bashar al-Assad, Asma al-Assad, has filed for divorce after expressing dissatisfaction with her life in Moscow.https://t.co/6lK0b5NFLg
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) December 22, 2024Read: Assad’s Inner Circle Flees Syria Amid Regime Collapse
Bashar al-Assad’s leadership featured a powerful “inner circle” comprising family members in key positions. His younger brother, Maher al-Assad, oversaw vital military units and played a significant role in domestic repression and in fostering ties with Iran. He has also encountered international sanctions due to his involvement in the Syrian conflict.
Additionally, Bashar’s sister, Bushra al-Assad, who was once a close advisor and married to an influential military figure, had a notable rivalry with Asma over her public role and the use of the “First Lady” title, traditionally held by their mother, Anisa.
Rami Makhlouf, Bashar’s cousin, once controlled a large part of the Syrian economy through his business ventures in various sectors, highlighting the extensive family involvement in the country’s governance and economic activities.
