Syrian first lady says despite offers to leave, she refuses to 'run from Syria'

Asma al-Assad.
(Image credit: Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images)

In a rare interview, Syria's first lady said she was given the opportunity to "run from Syria" with her three children, but refuses to leave her husband behind.

"..تضحيات الشهداء والجرحى والأمهات الثكالى وكلّ من قدّم دماً.. ليحمي وطنه.. أمانة كبيرة وجسيمة، فلنحملها جميعاً ولنكن على قدرها." الرئيس #الأسد 2016 مريم ابنة الشهيد حسين محمد، الوحيد لأهله، مع السيدة #أسماء_الأسد. #الأمانة_بأمان #SyrianPresidency #Syria #Asma #Assad #Martyrs #Hero #BraveA photo posted by Syrian Presidency (@syrianpresidency) on Aug 25, 2016 at 12:10pm PDT

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.