Asma al-Assad, Wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Diagnosed with Leukaemia
Syrian First Lady Asma al-Assad, who successfully battled breast cancer in 2019, has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a statement from the president’s office revealed. This aggressive form of cancer affects white blood cells crucial for fighting infection.
Asma will undergo a specialized treatment protocol that necessitates social distancing to prevent infection. As part of her treatment plan, she will temporarily withdraw from all direct engagements.
Once hailed as a progressive advocate for human rights, Asma was known as “A Rose in the Desert” before becoming a target of criticism for supporting her husband’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Syria. Despite the controversy, she founded the Syria Trust for Development charity, which operates in government-controlled areas.
The British-born first lady, married to President Bashar al-Assad, is the mother of two sons and a daughter. Her health battle comes after announcing her victory over breast cancer just two years ago.