European Union Expected to Ban European Travel for Assad's Wife and 11 Others Listen Download Embed Share Share this on Facebook (Opens in a new window) Share this on Twitter (Opens in a new window) Share this via Email Syrian First Lady Asma al-Assad listens to a speech by her husband, President Bashar al-Assad, during a rare public appearance in Damascus on January 11, 2012. ( STR / Getty ) Produced by Rupert Allman Produced by PRI and WNYC