Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's wife Asma was born in Britain.
She has a degree in computer science from Kings College and a career in investment banking.
Her family hails from Homs, a city which is being shelled by her husband Bashar al-Assad's army and her fellow Sunni Muslims are being killed.
Once seen by the West as a potentailly-liberal influence on her husband's dictatorial style of leadership, she is now defending what Britain has labelled an unacceptable and doomed regime.
An email from the office of Mrs Assad sent to The Times newspaper explains the reason why she believes her husband is still the right person to lead Syria.
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