Wife of Syria's Assad says she is free of cancer
This handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency Facebook page on August 3, 2019, shows First Lady Asma al-Assad posing for a picture.
The wife of Syria's president says that a year after being diagnosed with breast cancer she is now "completely" free of the disease.
Asma Assad, born in 1975, has gone public with her diagnosis — a rare declaration in the Arab world, where prominent figures often conceal their ailments.
Assad appeared at a military hospital, at times with husband Bashar Assad by her side. She continued her public activities, appearing with covered hair.
In a state TV interview aired late Saturday, Assad sported short blond hair and flashed a wide smile. She encouraged women to go for regular check-ups.
The Assads have continued to present themselves as modern, forward-looking leaders, even as Syria has been convulsed by civil war ignited by a rebellion against the family's decades-long rule.
