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The British wife of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, Asma Assad, has been confirmed as a sanctioned individual and is "not welcome" in the UK, according to Foreign Secretary David Lammy. His comments came after speculation surfaced that Asma, who was born and raised in London, might try to return to the UK. Asma Assad, now believed to be in Moscow with her husband, was born in 1975 and holds British citizenship.
Lammy addressed the issue in Parliament, stating that if Asma Assad tried to enter the UK, she would not be allowed, due to her sanctions status. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded cautiously, saying it was too soon to decide whether her British citizenship would be revoked. He emphasized the importance of working with international allies to handle the evolving situation in Syria.
Chancellor Pat McFadden added that the UK Government has not been contacted regarding Asma Assad's potential return. Though referrals were made to the Metropolitan Police’s war crimes team in previous years, the matter was not pursued further. The focus remains on maintaining diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution in Syria.
Source: The Independent
