Asma al-Assad, the wife of Bashar al-Assad, the former President of Syria, is currently battling leukemia, a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow. Reports suggest that she has a 50-50 chance of survival and is undergoing treatment while being isolated to minimize the risk of infection.
Asma, who was born in London in 1975 to Syrian parents, holds dual British-Syrian citizenship. She pursued degrees in computer science and French literature at King’s College London before venturing into a career in investment banking. In December 2000, she married Bashar al-Assad, and together they have three children: Hafez, Zein, and Karim.
The former first lady has previously faced health challenges, having battled breast cancer in 2019. After a year of treatment, she declared herself cancer-free. However, the leukemia is believed to have reappeared after a period of remission, according to reports.
Amid the Syrian uprising, Asma has reportedly sought to exile herself in London with her children. There were speculations that she filed for divorce from Bashar al-Assad, citing dissatisfaction with her life in Moscow. Nevertheless, the Kremlin refuted these claims, stating that they do not align with reality.
Currently residing in Moscow under asylum, Bashar al-Assad is reportedly facing severe restrictions imposed by Russian authorities. Despite his asylum request being accepted, he is prohibited from leaving Moscow or engaging in political activities. Additionally, there are allegations that his assets have been frozen, although the Kremlin denies this claim.
The Assad family fled Syria on December 8 following an 11-day rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This escape came after years of civil war that began with Bashar al-Assad’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 500,000 people and the displacement of more than half of Syria’s population.
Asma al-Assad’s battle with leukemia adds another layer of complexity to the already tumultuous journey of the Assad family. With uncertain outcomes and ongoing political restrictions, the future remains uncertain for Asma and her family as they navigate through these challenging times.
