Asma al-Assad, once seen as a modern First Lady of Syria, is now facing exile in Russia with her husband, President Bashar al-Assad. Formerly a British citizen with a glamorous image, she has become unwelcome in the UK following European sanctions. The UK Foreign Secretary confirmed that she is subject to sanctions and unwanted in the country, despite holding a British passport. Critics have accused her of profiting from the Syrian war through her charitable foundation, while she faces scrutiny for supporting her husband’s authoritarian regime since the 2011 uprising.