Asma al-Assad, the first lady of Syria who is also a former British investment banker, faces possible prosecution and the loss of her British citizenship after the Metropolitan Police opened a preliminary investigation into allegations that she incited and encouraged terrorist acts during the country’s ten-year civil war.
Assad, 45, a former London schoolgirl who studied at King’s College London, moved to Syria after her marriage to Bashar al-Assad in 2000. Since then, the mother of three has grown in power and prominence, expanding her charitable and business empire and giving speeches supporting the Syrian armed forces.
Over a decade of war, Syrian forces have targeted civilian areas, including hospitals and schools, with barrel bombs, airstrikes and artillery. The UN has highlighted the army’s
