The Newest Celebrity: The Dictator's Wife

Remember when Saif Qaddafi was a bold promising reformer feted by society? Not everybody learned their lesson from that disaster.

Remember when Saif Qaddafi was a bold promising reformer, feted by the London School of Economics and Dr. Benjamin Barber, the self-described "internationally renowned political theorist"? Everybody learned their lesson from that disaster, right? Well - not everybody. Chrystia Freeland reports in the International Herald Tribune today about the global celebration of Asma al-Assad, wife of the Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad:

Asma al-Assad, was the subject of a glowing profile in the March issue of the U.S. edition of Vogue, which described this “rose in the desert” as “the freshest and most magnetic of first ladies” and reported on the “wildly democratic principles” that govern family life chez Assad. Now, the Harvard Arab Alumni Association has organized an event in Damascus, “under the patronage” of Mrs. Assad, who was scheduled to deliver a keynote address on Thursday. On Wednesday, the day before the planned Harvard alumni event, security officers beat and detained a group of nonviolent demonstrators who gathered to call for the release of the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 political prisoners in the country. On its Web site earlier this week, the Harvard Arab Alumni Association highlighted its connection with the dictator’s wife: “We are greatly honored to hold our Arab World Conference under the esteemed patronage of Her Excellency Mrs. Asma al-Assad, The First Lady of Syria, and are privileged that Her Excellency will deliver the conference’s keynote address. A thought-provoking, inspiring and tireless leader and advocate, the First Lady’s address will certainly be the highlight of our event.”

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