When Bashar al-Assad’s government collapsed in December 2024 after 13 years of war, the world saw the aftermath of a regime accused of devastating its own country. Cities lay in ruins, mass graves were uncovered and evidence emerged from detention centres where thousands of people had disappeared during the conflict.
At the centre of the fallen government was not only Syria’s president, but also his wife, Asma al-Assad, a British citizen born and raised in London who became one of the most powerful figures inside the presidential palace.
An investigation by The Observer has reported that Asma was not merely a symbolic first lady but, according to sources formerly close to the ruling family, became deeply involved in the operation of the Assad government, particularly in economic affairs and internal decision-making. The allegations are based on interviews with multiple sources, many of whom spoke anonymously because of fears of retaliation.
The Observer reported that sources claimed Asma was considered by Russian officials as a possible successor to her husband, exercised influence over areas of the economy including international aid, and headed an informal economic network that pressured businesses and reshaped ownership of major assets.
Asma’s future has also drawn international attention because of her British citizenship. While reports indicate that two of her brothers have been denied entry to the UK and former foreign secretary David Lammy has said she is not welcome in Britain, there has been no indication that her citizenship has been revoked. The Home Office and Foreign Office declined to comment.
The Observer reported that Asma and Bashar al-Assad currently have residency in the United Arab Emirates and have travelled between Dubai and other locations. Sources said members of the Assad family, including their children and Asma’s mother, are also living there.
The former Syrian president remains wanted internationally over alleged war crimes, including cases related to the 2013 Ghouta chemical attacks and the deaths of journalists Marie Colvin and Rémi Ochlik during the shelling of Homs. Syria is not a member of the International Criminal Court, limiting the court’s jurisdiction over crimes committed during the conflict, but legal experts have said Asma’s British citizenship could create possible avenues for prosecution.
Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the former ICC chief prosecutor, said her nationality could be significant because Britain is a member state of the court. In 2021, the Metropolitan Police’s war crimes unit examined allegations relating to Asma’s support for the Syrian government and her role in promoting the regime’s narrative. A dossier was compiled and passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, although practical difficulties surrounding her likely absence from the UK contributed to the decision not to proceed.
Before becoming Syria’s first lady, Asma Akhras was a London professional. She studied at Queen’s College, a private girls’ school in central London, before building a career in banking at Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan. According to people who knew her, her relationship with Assad changed the direction of her life.
The couple married in 2000, shortly after Bashar al-Assad became president following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad. When she arrived in Damascus, Asma created a series of charitable and development organisations that were eventually brought together under the Syria Trust for Development.
Former employees told The Observer that they initially believed she wanted to modernise Syria and improve opportunities for ordinary citizens. Zaki Mehchy, who worked as a senior research analyst with the organisation, said he believed she was attempting to create positive change within an authoritarian system.
That image changed after the 2011 uprising against Assad’s rule. As security forces launched a violent crackdown on protests, thousands were detained and reports of torture and killings spread across the country.
Former associates told The Observer that some people hoped Asma could influence the regime’s response. However, critics say she remained silent as the government carried out its military campaign against opposition areas.
The investigation also examined her growing economic influence during the war. As Syria’s economy collapsed under sanctions and conflict, Asma allegedly became a key figure in managing the regime’s financial interests. Sources told The Observer that she helped build an economic network around loyal businessmen and advisers after the decline of her husband’s cousin, billionaire businessman Rami Makhlouf.
According to the investigation, businessmen who resisted pressure from the network faced threats, investigations or financial restrictions. Asma’s father, Fawaz Akhras, rejected these allegations, saying claims that his daughter was involved in economic wrongdoing lacked evidence.
The Observer also reported allegations involving humanitarian aid and children held by the security services. Sources claimed that organisations linked to Asma were aware of children being kept in orphanages as political leverage against families connected to the opposition. Her father strongly denied that she knew about, authorised or tolerated such practices.
As the Assad regime weakened, questions grew over whether Asma could play a political role after her husband. Sources told The Observer that Russia had discussed possible replacements for Bashar al-Assad, with Asma among the names considered.
The final collapse came in December 2024, when rebel forces advanced toward Damascus and Assad fled to Moscow with his family. Sources told The Observer that Asma had been in Russia undergoing treatment for leukemia, while her father said she was receiving medical care there when the regime fell.
Since the fall of the government, Syrian authorities and international investigators have begun gathering evidence connected to alleged abuses under Assad’s rule. Some former security officials have been arrested, but efforts to establish a broader accountability process remain ongoing.
For survivors of the Assad era, the search for justice continues. Among them is Bissan Jouma, who was imprisoned as a teenager and separated from her children, who were placed in orphanages connected to organisations supported by Asma. Jouma has said she is still waiting for accountability from those at the highest levels of the former government.
The investigation by The Observer has placed renewed focus on Asma al-Assad’s role in one of the Middle East’s most devastating conflicts and on the unresolved question of responsibility among the figures who surrounded the former Syrian president.
