We call her Emma

About We call her Emma

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 stands 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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

The Observer

Category

news · society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Aug 2026

Latest episode

11 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

3 of 7 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Asma's Syria | We call her Emma Ep6

   Reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou interviews a regime insider about Asma al-Assad's growing power and palace secrets during the Syrian regime's collapse.

2. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Asma’s orphanages | We call her Emma Ep5

   Reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou investigates allegations of Asma al-Assad's involvement in separating children from dissidents in an orphanage, uncovering a crucial truth.

3. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Asma’s deal | We call her Emma Ep4

   Reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou interviews sources close to Asma al-Assad, uncovering her surprising early attempt to leave Syria during the war.

4. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Asma’s choice | We call her Emma Ep3

   Chloe Hadjimatheou interviews Asma about her difficult choice during the Syrian Arab Spring, exploring the true nature of her options.

5. 

   11 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Diana of Damascus | We call her Emma Ep2

   Reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou interviews individuals who recall Asma's early genuine intentions in Syria, exploring how she became trapped by the regime.

6. 

   11 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The girl from Acton | We call her Emma Ep1

   Chloe Hadjimatheou interviews Emma, exploring her transformation from a West London woman to Asma al-Assad, the First Lady of Syria.

7. 

   11 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Introducing...We call her Emma

   Chloe Hadjimatheou investigates the complex life of Emma, exploring her choices and complicity alongside her husband, Bashar al-Assad, in Syria's brutal conflict.

Inside a recent episode

Diana of Damascus | We call her Emma Ep2

Published 11 Aug 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Hello, how are you? It sounds like you've been having a very busy time since you've been here. It's been wonderful to be like that. I'm just enjoying it. And you can hear it in the news coverage at the time. The very fact of her being there somehow helps soften Bashar and makes him more palatable. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

50 ratings

Contact We call her Emma

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

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