Outrage on social media over whitewashing of Syrian first lady’s war crimes
DAMASCUS – A photo of Syrian First Lady Asma al-Assad picking roses in Damascus caused outrage on social media.
The photo, circulated by the French news agency AFP, was seen as an attempt to whitewash the Syrian government’s abuses.
The post was also seen as normalizing the regime of Bashar al Asad and ignoring the rights violations of his government.
In recent months, many leaders from around the world have engaged in dialog with the regime.
Earlier this month, Syria was readmitted to the Arab League.
According to the news website Middle East Eye, criticism of the photo is part of a broader debate about normalizing relations with the Assad government.
The first lady is one of the most influential business and government officials in Syria.
She has made speeches in support of Syrian forces.
A UK-based human rights law firm Guernica 37 had filed a case against her in 2021.
The law firm had submitted two confidential files to London’s Metropolitan Police Service that mentioned her role in the Syrian war.
The AFP photo was seen as a whitewash of her alleged involvement in war crimes.
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