Almost a month after the Syrian presidency announced that Asma al-Assad has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a statement. In remarks made yesterday after performing Eid al-Adha prayers in Damascus, Assad confirmed that the leukemia affecting his wife is difficult, and so is the treatment. However, he added that one sometimes wonders when faced with a serious illness, "What is the wisdom of the Almighty in this matter," before reaffirming that if a person compares themselves to the hardships of others, their suffering may become easier to bear. He also pointed out: "If you look at Syrian families during the war, many of them are in much tougher situations, whether due to illness or the loss of a family member." He considered that a normal person often empathizes more with others when they themselves face adversity.
In addition, the First Lady of Syria appeared at the end of last month in a video on her official Instagram account, reassuring Syrians about her condition. She explained at that time that since the announcement of her illness, she has received many messages, expressing gratitude to everyone who inquired about her, and affirming that she will fight the disease with determination and resolve. It is worth noting that Asma al-Assad had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer and announced her recovery in August 2019.
