British-born Asma al-Assad has come out in support of her husband's oppression of his people – but why are we surprised?
Nesrine Malik
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 7 February 2012
"....Asma was in the press last year in another colossally ill-judged and badly timed article, this time in Vogue, titled Desert Rose. The puff piece, February's cover story, which among other things fawningly documents the first lady's love of Louboutin shoes, was pulled from the Vogue website soon afterwards. At the time, the first drops of blood were being shed in Syria – a country the article had referred to as "the safest country in the Middle East" presided over by a first couple whose household was run on "wildly democratic principles".....
In fact, across the Arab world at the highest political echelons, there are a number of photogenic wives and daughters who appear western in education and dress, but default unquestioningly to their fathers and husbands. It is not a feminist issue; a Phd from the London School of Economics did not make Saif al-Islam less of a tyrant. Family values trump all.....
....Bashar did not turn into a tyrant overnight. His father was one of the most brutal dictators the region had witnessed, despite some stiff competition, and his heir was fully expected to continue in the manner. The marriage was loosely arranged a mere six months after Bashar succeeded his father so there was some transactional aspect to it....."
Nesrine Malik
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 7 February 2012
"....Asma was in the press last year in another colossally ill-judged and badly timed article, this time in Vogue, titled Desert Rose. The puff piece, February's cover story, which among other things fawningly documents the first lady's love of Louboutin shoes, was pulled from the Vogue website soon afterwards. At the time, the first drops of blood were being shed in Syria – a country the article had referred to as "the safest country in the Middle East" presided over by a first couple whose household was run on "wildly democratic principles".....
In fact, across the Arab world at the highest political echelons, there are a number of photogenic wives and daughters who appear western in education and dress, but default unquestioningly to their fathers and husbands. It is not a feminist issue; a Phd from the London School of Economics did not make Saif al-Islam less of a tyrant. Family values trump all.....
....Bashar did not turn into a tyrant overnight. His father was one of the most brutal dictators the region had witnessed, despite some stiff competition, and his heir was fully expected to continue in the manner. The marriage was loosely arranged a mere six months after Bashar succeeded his father so there was some transactional aspect to it....."
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