Asma Assad
Encyclopedia
Asma al-Assad; born 11 August 1975; née Asma Fawaz al-Akhras , is the British-born First Lady
of Syria. She moved to Syria to marry President Bashar al-Assad
in December 2000, having previously pursued a career in investment banking.
Assad is the daughter of Fawaz Akhras
, a consultant cardiologist at the Cromwell Hospital, London
, and retired diplomat Sahar Otri al-Akhras. Her parents are Sunni and of Syrian origin, originally coming from Homs. Assad grew up in Acton
where she went to a local Church of England
state school. She finished her schooling at Queen's College
in London, attended King's College London
and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Diploma in French Literature
.
After university, Assad started work at Deutsche Bank Group
in the Hedge Fund Management division with clients in Europe and the Far East
. In 1998, she joined the Investment Banking division of J.P. Morgan
, specializing in mergers and acquisitions
.
's death in 2000, Bashar took over the presidency of Syria. Asma emigrated to Syria in November 2000 and married Bashar in December. They have three children: Hafez, Zein and Karim.
On 10 May 2011, a diplomatic source reported that Assad had taken her three children out of the country to avoid escalating violence in Syria and they were now in a safe house "in or near" London. The Syrian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sami Khiyami
, denied that Assad had fled to London with her children. On 30 June 2011, she was photographed greeting regime supporters in Damascus.
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of Syria. She moved to Syria to marry President Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
in December 2000, having previously pursued a career in investment banking.
Early life, education and career
Fawaz Akhras
Fawas Akhras is a London, England-based, British Syrian cardiologist. He is a founding Director of the British Syrian Society and is involved with a number of Syrian causes....
, a consultant cardiologist at the Cromwell Hospital, London
Cromwell Hospital
The Cromwell Hospital is a private sector hospital located in the South Kensington area of London. The hospital was founded on 29 April 1981. The Cromwell Hospital has at various times been owned by the Bank of Credit & Commerce International and the Abu Dhabi royal family.The footballer George...
, and retired diplomat Sahar Otri al-Akhras. Her parents are Sunni and of Syrian origin, originally coming from Homs. Assad grew up in Acton
Acton, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
where she went to a local Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
state school. She finished her schooling at Queen's College
Queen's College, London
Queen's College is an independent school for girls aged 11–18. It is located in central London at numbers 43-49, Harley Street. Founded in 1848 by F. D. Maurice, Professor of English Literature and History at King's College London along with a committee of patrons, the College was the first...
in London, attended King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Diploma in French Literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
.
After university, Assad started work at Deutsche Bank Group
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank AG is a global financial service company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. It employs more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets...
in the Hedge Fund Management division with clients in Europe and the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. In 1998, she joined the Investment Banking division of J.P. Morgan
J.P. Morgan & Co.
J.P. Morgan & Co. was a commercial and investment banking institution based in the United States founded by J. Pierpont Morgan and commonly known as the House of Morgan or simply Morgan. Today, J.P...
, specializing in mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...
.
Personal life
Asma met Bashar al-Assad during a holiday to Syria. After Hafez al-AssadHafez al-Assad
Hafez ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman al-Assad or more commonly Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule consolidated the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups, such as Operation Wappen in 1957 conducted by the Eisenhower administration and...
's death in 2000, Bashar took over the presidency of Syria. Asma emigrated to Syria in November 2000 and married Bashar in December. They have three children: Hafez, Zein and Karim.
On 10 May 2011, a diplomatic source reported that Assad had taken her three children out of the country to avoid escalating violence in Syria and they were now in a safe house "in or near" London. The Syrian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sami Khiyami
Sami Khiyami
Sami Khiyami is a Syrian diplomat, currently Syrian ambassador to London.-Background:Khiyami studied at university in Beirut, Lebanon, and Lyon, France. An electronics expert by training, he has held a number of professional roles, including senior advisor to the Syrian banking industry and a...
, denied that Assad had fled to London with her children. On 30 June 2011, she was photographed greeting regime supporters in Damascus.
External links
- The First Lady: Asma Akhras al-Assad Syrian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
- Ann Curry interviews Asma, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, 9 May 2007
- The London girl with a plan to save Syria, Margarette Driscoll, The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, 7 December 2008