<p>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.</p><br><p>In the early days, people inside and out of Syria dared to hope.&nbsp;Alongside his beautiful, progressive wife, Bashar promised to modernise the country.</p><br><p>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 stood by her husband. She seemingly ignored the desperate pleas to stop her husband from killing his own people.&nbsp;</p><br><p>But what did she really know about the atrocities her husband’s government was carrying out? And what choices did she really have?&nbsp;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.&nbsp;</p><br><p>So, who is the real Emma?</p><br><p>We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.</p><br><p>To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, <a href="https://observer.co.uk/subscribe/audio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to The Observer</a> and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.</p><br><p>You'll get access to:</p><br><p><br></p><ul><li>This series and all our podcasts before anyone else</li><li>Ad-free listening</li><li>Premium newsletters</li><li>Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword</li><li>Exclusive offers from our partners including Mubi and iescape</li><li>Tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.</p><br><p>Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou</p><p>Producer - Gary Marshall</p><p>Sound design - Karla Patella</p><p>Podcast artwork - Lola Williams &amp; Eliza Bourner</p><p>Executive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>