LONDON: Once celebrated as an advocate of women’s rights in the Middle East, British-born former first lady Asma al-Assad has fled into exile with her husband, with UK officials saying she is not welcome to return to London.

Asma al-Assad, 49, her husband and three children have sought refuge in Moscow after rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad from power, according to Russian state news agencies, although the Kremlin has not confirmed the reports.

It is just the latest blow to the shredded reputation of a woman whose glamour and charm had been seen in the past as a key asset to the Syrian government. Asma al-Assad was born in London in 1975 and has spent half her life in the UK, with her parents still living in the west of the capital city.

She retains British citizenship, but foreign minister David Lammy said on Monday that she was no longer welcome in the country, suggesting she may soon lose her UK passport.

“I’ve seen mentioned in the last few days, 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,” he told parliament.

Asma al Assad had her UK assets frozen in March 2012 amid growing protests against her husband’s rule, as part of a European sanction programme that London maintained after Brexit.

The UK has previously stripped citizens of their nationality for joining the militant Islamic State group, Bader Mousa Al Saif, researcher at the Chatham House think tank, said. “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,” he added.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that it was “far too early” to discuss such a measure, while minister Pat McFadden told the BBC “we have had no contact” with the former first lady.

Asma al-Assad was born to cardiologist father Fawaz al Akhras and retired diplomat Sahar Otri, both from Syria.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2024