A Childhood Photo Resurfaces: Lily Forchester’s Unexpected Link to Asma al-Assad
When writer Lily Forchester stumbled upon a decades-old photograph of herself alongside Asma al-Assad, the wife of Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad, she was stunned. The image, taken in 2002 on the steps of Queen’s College in central London, resurfaced in the wake of the fall of the Assad regime. Forchester, then just 11 years old, had no idea the photo would later become a symbol of a complex and tragic chapter in Syrian history.
The photograph, which spread widely after Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham took over Damascus, captures a moment frozen in time. Forchester, in her final year of middle school, stands alongside Asma al-Assad, who was then celebrated as the glamorous face of “modern Syria.” At the time, Asma was known for her Chanel fashions and her role as the wife of a reformist leader who had inherited the presidency from his father just two years earlier.“It was my birthday, and I had never chosen to give flowers before, especially in high school, which I was keen to attend, so the memory stuck in my mind,” Forchester recalls in her article for The Times.“When I think back, I remember the cameras flashing, but I had no idea that photos would end up in photo libraries, where anyone can buy them.”
The image, taken in the school’s famous hallway adorned with wallpaper designed by William Morris, shows a young Forchester looking excited and nervous. Asma al-Assad, wearing an elegant white jacket, smiles warmly at the photographers and greets the teachers with her soft English accent. “In the past, the school’s invitation seems ill-advised, even though at the time it was tough to predict the lion’s dark path,” Forchester reflects.
Asma al-Assad’s journey from a London-based investment banker at JP Morgan to the first lady of Syria is a tale of contrasts. Born and raised in Acton, a middle-class area of west London, she studied computer science at King’s College London before marrying Bashar al-Assad. Initially seen as a supportive wife, she eventually gained meaningful influence within the regime.Forchester’s rediscovery of the photo stirred memories and prompted deeper reflection. “I could not believe that I had never connected the two things,” she writes. “The atrocities committed in Syria were widely covered in the English press, but it never occurred to me that I had met—and been so warmly received—Asma al-Assad.”
Her mother, though, was less surprised. “I actually tracked her down during the Arab Spring, but we didn’t talk about it,” Forchester reveals.
Today, Asma al-Assad is banned from returning to her country of birth amid reports of her serious illness. The photograph, once a symbol of hope and modernity, now serves as a poignant reminder of a regime’s descent into darkness.
| Key Details | Summary |
|——————|————-|
| Year of Photo | 2002 |
| Location | Queen’s College, London |
| Context | Asma al-Assad’s visit to the school |
| Forchester’s Age | 11 years old |
| Asma’s Role | First Lady of Syria |
| Current Status | Asma al-Assad banned from Syria |
Forchester’s story is a testament to the unexpected ways in which personal histories intersect with global events. As she revisits this moment from her childhood, she invites readers to reflect on the complexities of memory, identity, and the passage of time.
What do you think about the unexpected connections that shape our lives? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
