Fawaz Akhras' Comments to the Express

So now Fawaz al Akhras says that he is "horrified" by the actions of his son-in-law. The story that was broken by the Express in the UK is already making ripples. The British Syrian Society is probably the biggest nest of pro-Assad supporters in the UK, and some of it's members routinely portray themselves as some kind of informal lobbying group which networks for the advantage of Syria. Many of the members that I have met are also of the most obnoxious of Syria's ex-pat "establishment".

I don't know if the story is true, but if it is, it is most interesting to see al Akhras trying to distance himself from Assad's regime. For some time I have felt that the world has been slowly trying to figure out what Asma's position on the events in Syria really is. I noted previously that she looked like a rabbit staring at headlights when her husband was photographed casting his "vote" for the constitutional referendum. We do have to be careful because this story has been broken by the Express, a publication which is to the right of conservatism in the UK: it even has a crusader as its logo. It also quotes the lousy Malek Al Abdeh, the man who manages the even lousier Barada opposition TV station and who relishes every opportunity to portray himself as an intellectual. Here he says:

“They are all tainted. But I think Asma Assad must be horrified by what is happening. She grew up here; her ethics and morality were formed in Britain.”

 What on earth does he mean when he says that her ethics and morality were formed in Britain? Tony Blair's ethics and morality were formed in Britain and he's hardly a paragon of virtue. Does growing up in Britain make somebody a bit more morally upright than somebody who grew up in Syria? What a silly comment for Al Abdeh to make.

Anyhow, it will be interesting to see the result of Akhras' comments, which, if true, would make the position of his daughter and grandchildren in Syria extremely difficult. In a way he has only himself to blame and perhaps the thought of being the father in law of Syria's dictator would have been an appealing road to riches and influence both in Syria and Britain. That plan now looks to be in tatters. Oh dear...