Abdo al-Dabakh
Cousin of Asma al-Assad (née Emma al-Akhras) and friend of Bashar al-Assad; featured as a guest on the Tortoise Investigates podcast "We call her Emma" recalling her early life and family dynamics.
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APPEARANCES
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PODCASTS
Aug 11, 2026
27:50
They were at school together as kids and one day back in the 90s, Bashar called Abdo to ask his advice.
Abdo al-DabakhGUEST
And he said, what do you think of Emma? I was like, Emma who? He said, your cousin.
Abdo al-DabakhGUEST
I said, what's wrong with her? He said, what do you think of her? Because he knows her.
Abdo al-DabakhGUEST
I was like, what do you need for her? And he said, you know, what about, you know, is she good? I said, what? And I told him, you're going to marry Sunni? He said, yes.
30:22
It's hard to reconcile this hotshot city girl with what I'm being told by everyone, that her marriage into the Syrian ruling family was decided for her.