Introducing...We call her Emma

Introducing...We call her Emma

From Lucky Boy | Tortoise Investigates by The Observer

July 1, 2026 · 4 min · Season 20

About this episode

The episode explores the life of Emma, who married Bashar al-Assad and the complexities of her role during the Syrian conflict.

Emma is a high achieving, middle class girl from west London. She seems destined for a successful career in banking and a comfortable British life. Until she makes a decision that will come to define her. In 2001 Emma marries Bashar al-Assad - the now infamous dictator of Syria. In the early days, people inside and out of Syria dared to hope. Alongside his beautiful, progressive wife, Bashar promised to modernise the country. But when the Arab Spring reached Syria in 2011, Bashar's regime showed itself for what it really was: a brutal force, willing to capture and kill ordinary Syrians demanding change. And in all the years that a war raged on, Asma stood by her husband. She seemingly ignored the desperate pleas to stop her husband from killing his own people.  But what did she really know about the atrocities her husband’s government was carrying out? And what choices did she really have? Some people allege that she actually assisted the regime and cashed in on the war, that she herself is a war criminal. Others say she tried to run away but was trapped, held hostage by a regime who threatened her life and her children.  So, who is the real Emma? We call her…

Topics covered

  • war
  • dictatorship
  • personal choices
  • Syria
  • Arab Spring
  • family dynamics

Keywords

  • Emma
  • Bashar al-Assad
  • Syria
  • Arab Spring
  • war crimes
  • dictatorship
  • personal choices

Sponsors

The Observer

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tortoise Investigates, The Observer

Places: Syria, London

More episodes of Lucky Boy | Tortoise Investigates

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Lucky Boy | Tortoise Investigates podcast page.