Wife of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad is facing possible terrorism charges and the loss of her British citizenship after the Metropolitan police opened a preliminary investigation into claims she has incited terrorist acts in Syria during the past 10 years of the vicious and bloody civil war, reported The Sunday Times.
The investigation could pave the way for sanctions against Asma al-Assad, 45, who could also be stripped of her British nationality.
Also, an Interpol red notice could be issued, which would mean she could not travel outside Syria without facing arrest.
This investigation follows a complaint filed last July by Guernica 37 International Justice Chambers, according to which al-Assad is "a person of influence who encouraged acts of terrorism" in Syria.
“Our legal team at Guernica 37 has been actively investigating this matter for several months and as a result have filed two confidential communications with the Metropolitan police service counter-terrorism command (SO15)," the firm said.
It is not clear whether prosecutors would wish to proceed with a trial in absentia while observers believe it is unlikely that Assad would obey a court summons in the UK.
Meanwhile in Russia, head of Duma (lower house) group for relations with the Syrian parliament Dmitry Sablin said the UK’s investigation against Assad is an element of psychological pressure in the run-up to the presidential elections.
"In the 11th year of the armed conflict in Syria, the British discovered that the president's wife "had influence in leadership," supported Syrians in the fight for their country, and launched an investigation - just at the moment when the woman, who has just been treated for cancer, is combating COVID-19,” he said.
The MP added: “It is obvious that this is an element of psychological pressure on the country's leadership ahead of the presidential elections, which are due to be held this year.”
