Wife of Syrian dictator Assad says she is free of cancer

The wife of Syria’s dictator says that a year after being diagnosed with breast cancer she is now “completely” free of the disease.

Asma Assad, born in 1975, has gone public with her diagnosis — a rare declaration in the Arab world, where prominent figures often conceal their ailments.

Assad appeared at a military hospital, at times with husband Bashar Assad by her side. She continued her public activities, appearing with covered hair.

In a state TV interview aired late Saturday, Assad sported short blond hair and flashed a wide smile. She encouraged women to go for regular checkups.

The Assads have continued to present themselves as modern, forward-looking leaders, even as Syria has been convulsed by a brutal civil war ignited by a rebellion against the family’s decades-long rule, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands.

— AP, Times of Israel staff