Tortoise Investigates

Eighteen months ago the Assad regime suddenly collapsed, and the first lady and her family fled to Moscow. A regime insider tells Chloe just how powerful Asma had become in the final years and what was happening inside the palace. Could Asma really have had aspirations to take over from her husband?

We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.

Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou
Producer - Gary Marshall
Sound design - Karla Patella & Hannah Varrall
Podcast artwork - Lola Williams & Eliza Bourner
Executive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe learns of allegations that Asma - the ‘mother of the nation’ - had an active role in one of the regime’s cruellest strategies: separating the children of dissidents and rebel fighters from their parents to use them as bargaining chips. At an orphanage in Damascus, Chloe gets closer to the truth.

We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.

To binge listen to more episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.

You'll get access to:

This series and all our podcasts before anyone else
Ad-free listening
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Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword
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Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.

Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou
Producer - Gary Marshall
Sound design - Karla Patella & Hannah Varrall
Podcast artwork - Lola Williams & Eliza Bourner
Executive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe travels to Damascus to meet people close to Bashar and Asma. One source tells her that Asma took a drastic decision in the early years of the war - she tried to leave Syria. Only it’s not for the reasons you might think.

We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.

To binge listen to more episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.

You'll get access to:
This series and all our podcasts before anyone else
Ad-free listening
Premium newsletters
Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword
Exclusive offers from our partners including Mubi and iescape
Tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online

Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.

Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou
Producer - Gary Marshall
Sound design - Karla Patella & Hannah Varrall
Podcast artwork - Lola Williams & Eliza Bourner
Executive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2011, the Arab Spring hits Syria and Asma has a decision to make: speak out in favour of the popular revolution or stay loyal to the regime. But what choice did she really have?

We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.

To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.

You'll get access to:
This series and all our podcasts before anyone else
Ad-free listening
Premium newsletters
Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword
Exclusive offers from our partners including Mubi and iescape
Tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online

Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.

Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou
Producer - Gary Marshall
Sound design - Karla Patella
Podcast artwork - Lola Williams & Eliza Bourner
Executive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Asma arrives in Syria, there’s a palpable sense of hope. People in the country and around the world dare to believe that she is a force for good. Chloe hears from people who worked with her in the early years who - despite everything that’s happened - still believe her intentions were genuine but that she became trapped by the regime.

We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.

To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.

You'll get access to:

This series and all our podcasts before anyone else
Ad-free listening
Premium newsletters
Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword
Exclusive offers from our partners including Mubi and iescape
Tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online

Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.

Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou
Producer - Gary Marshall
Sound design - Karla Patella
Podcast artwork - Lola Williams & Eliza Bourner
Executive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.