Former Syrian First Lady Aasma al-Assad is facing dire health challenges as she battles acute myeloid leukemia, which has reemerged after initial treatment. Reports indicate she has been granted only a 50% chance of survival, creating deep concern among her family and those close to her.
Aasma, the wife of deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is currently isolatin' herself with her family in Moscow, where the political exiles have found asylum following the regime's fall. Her health has drawn attention recently after the Syrian presidency announced her diagnosis back in May 2023. The illness is particularly severe, according to multiple sources, with one anonymous informant stating, "Aasma is dying. She cannot be in the same room with anyone due to her condition." This alarming statement has amplified worries about her state.
At just 49 years old, Aasma has previously fought cancer, having successfully undergone treatment for breast cancer, from which she declared herself "completely" free by August 2019. Unfortunately, her current diagnosis presents challenges as leukemia settles back after what seemed to have been remission.
Her father, Fawaz Akhras, has been reported as "heartbroken" over his daughter's health condition. He reportedly has been caring for her during this precarious time. These developments have incited emotional reactions from those within her social circle, as the sources close to the family depict the heavy burden lying on Aasma's parents.
While Aasma's health remains the focal point, other news has emerged surrounding her marital situation. Rumors have circulated about her intent to seek divorce from Bashar al-Assad, with unconfirmed reports indicating she has approached Russian courts for permission to leave Moscow and return to London, her birthplace. A British official, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, has made it clear, though, through his declarations, she is unwelcome back to the UK.
The Kremlin has outright denied speculation about the divorce, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commenting dismissively on the claims, stating, "No, it is not true," indicating governmental denial of possible instability within the Assad couple's relationship.
This complex situation surrounding Aasma al-Assad raises a plethora of questions about her future and the geopolitical arenas tied to her family's past rule of Syria. The societal responses from Syrian nationals who belong to the same Alawite sect demonstrate a complex emotional fabric within the region, where people are still processing the aftermath of the temporary fallout from the regime. Reports indicate protests within Alawite communities following fearsome incidents, reminding onlookers of the depth of social unrest still being felt following the rebellion.
Despite her declining health and turbulent familial situation, Aasma’s legacy as the wife of the former president lingers on as she remains symbolically tied to the extensive historical narrative of the Syrian people. Observers continue to monitor her condition, highlighting broader themes of exile and identity amid the turmoil of political upheaval.
With all eyes now focused on her health prognosis, the question remains: what will be the next chapter for the woman who once occupied Syria's first lady position—a figure now caught between her past affluence and the stark realities of her present?
