Bashar al-Assad's wife had links to British intelligence

According to documents published by a Syrian journalist, Bashar al-Assad's wife, Asma, had ties to British intelligence.

The materials also contain information about surveillance of Bashar al-Assad himself during his studies in London.

Journalist Nizar Naif presented several secret documents prepared by Syrian security services in the early 1990s at the behest of Bashar's father, Hafez al-Assad. Hafez did not approve of his son's choice and was against his marriage to Asma, so he ordered his agents to monitor his daughter-in-law in the UK and gather information about her circle.

Asma al-Assad, a London native, graduated from King's College, University of London, and began working at JPMorgan Bank. According to Syrian intelligence data, she was accompanied at work by a British intelligence officer who provided her with support. 

Reports sent to Hafez also mention that during Asma's meetings with Bashar and her mother in luxurious London hotels, representatives of British security services were stationed near the hotel. 

They were also present at one of the dinner parties organised by her father. Bashar al-Assad was also at this event, and, as noted, they discussed important internal issues of Syria, Bashar's relations with the Ba'ath Party, as well as Syrian-Israeli relations.