German and British ambassadors wives target Asma al-Assad online

The wives of Britain’s and Germany’s ambassadors to the United Nations have released a video urging the wife of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to demand he stop the violence now.

They ask online viewers to sign a petition to Asma al-Assad urging her to “stand up for peace for your people.”

Huberta von Voss-Wittig, wife of Germany’s UN ambassador Peter Wittig, and Sheila Lyall Grant, yesterday said in a letter accompanying the video that as a woman, wife, mother, champion of women’s equality, and formerly vocal female Arab leader, Asma “cannot hide behind her husband”.

“Her public voice is needed,” they said, noting that many female victims of the ongoing violence have spoken out.

“We are asking Asma Assad to take a risk, too, and to say openly: stop the bloodshed, stop it right now,” Mrs Voss-Wittig and Mrs Lyall Grant said.

The video alternates pictures of the stylish 36-year-old London-born Asma with scenes of Syria’s conflict and its victims, including images of children who have been killed or injured in the more than year-long conflict in which more than 9,000 people have died.

Before the Syrian uprising began in March 2011, the Assads were often spotted driving and riding bicycles in Damascus with their three children. They lived in an upmarket district rather than the presidential palace.

In February, leaked e-mails revealed Asma shopping online for crystal-encrusted Christian Louboutin stilettos, expensive jewellery, custom-made furniture and other luxury goods as violence swept the country.

l For more see www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzUViTShIAo