On Dec. 8, the Assad regime was toppled when rebels breached Damascus, after nearly 14 years of war. When the outcome had become clear, Assad fled Syria on a Russian military plane with his son Hafez, meeting Asma and his other children in Moscow, where they had been granted asylum, according to The Financial Times.

Assad, is battling aggressive leukaemia and has a 50/50 chance of survival. She is reportedly seeking to return to the UK despite political and legal obstacles.