Episode 1
The story of the Assad dynasty. Following Bashar and Asma's journey to become president and first lady of Syria against the backdrop of a troubled and suspicious family.
Three-part series delving into the story of the Assad dynasty. Right at the centre of it are President Bashar and his wife Asma, who met and fell in love in London. Bashar al-Assad trained to be an eye doctor at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington and Asma was a British-born girl from a Syrian family with a career in investment banking. Over a decade ago, they were being welcomed with open arms in Britain. Today, they are entrenched in a brutal war that has led to some of the most horrifying crimes of modern times. Told through rarely seen footage and testimony of those who knew them, worked with them and studied them, the series explores how the couple, who at first were seen as a modernising force, ended up running a regime accused of war crimes.
Episode one follows Bashar and Asma's journey to become president and first lady of Syria against the backdrop of a troubled and suspicious family. Bashar's father Hafez, an old-fashioned Middle East dictator who saw off six US presidents, had Bashar's older brother in mind as the next president. When he died in a car accident, a completely unprepared Bashar was the next in line for the job.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Next
Clip
-
"Bashar was very embarrassed"
Duration: 02:17
Music Played
-
Phil Collins
In the Air Tonight
-
Barrington Pheloung
Concerto For 2 Mandolini In G (Andante 1)
-
Radiohead
Planet Telex
-
Massive Attack, Horace Andy
Angel
Broadcasts
- Tue 9 Oct 2018 21:0091热爆 Two except Scotland
- Tue 9 Oct 2018 23:4591热爆 Two Scotland
- Mon 15 Oct 2018 23:15
- Sat 27 Oct 2018 02:00
- Thu 31 Oct 2019 23:1591热爆 Two except Northern Ireland & Scotland
- Mon 5 Jul 2021 23:1591热爆 Two except Northern Ireland & Scotland
- Tue 6 Jul 2021 23:1591热爆 Two Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD only
Featured in...
Thought-provoking Global Stories
Learn more about the world we live in with these thought-provoking documentaries.
Documentaries on Two
Best of 91热爆 Two Documentaries