Asmaa Al-Akhras: A Journey from British Elite to First Lady

Over the 25 years that Bashar al-Assad has ruled Syria, Asma al-Akhras, the British-born first lady, has been a focus of controversy and media attention. She was presented as the “modern” face of Syria, but she became a questionable symbol as the civil war intensified, ending recently with the fall of the regime and Assad’s flight into exile.

Asmaa Al-Akhras.. Origin and Formation Asma Akhras was born in Acton, west London, to a well-off Syrian family, and received an elite education in Britain, where she studied computer science and worked in investment banking.

Her marriage to Bashar al-Assad in 2000 raised Western hopes for the possibility of reforming the Syrian regime, especially since her marriage brought together two conflicting sects in Syria: the Sunni majority to which Asma belongs, and the Alawite sect to which Assad belongs.

Public roles and the image of the “modern face of Syria” Asma played a prominent role in the regime's public relations strategy, appearing in Western media as a symbol of elegance and modernity.

The most prominent of these campaigns was the famous Vogue article in 2011, which described her as a “rose in the desert.” But the image quickly turned upside down with the outbreak of the Syrian revolution and its transformation into a civil war.

Despite her efforts to present a humanitarian image through charitable activities, electronic leaks revealed other sides; revealing her penchant for luxury and extravagance at a time when the country was suffering from total destruction.

Civil war and regime bias With the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, Asma stood by her husband, describing her support for him as “her duty as a wife and mother.”

Despite international pressure and European sanctions, she continued her activities inside Syria, and led charitable efforts to support the families of those killed by the regime.

Illness and personal struggle In 2018, Asma was diagnosed with breast cancer, beginning an arduous treatment journey that ended with her recovery a year later. But in May 2024, the Syrian presidency announced that she had leukemia, which removed her from the spotlight almost completely.

The fall of the regime: the unknown fate After opposition forces took control of Damascus and ousted Bashar al-Assad, the former president and his family fled to Russia. Asma, who lost her role as first lady, now faces an uncertain future.

According to observers, Asma may reorganize her life away from politics, while many questions remain about her role in the regime and her responsibility for the previous era.