London, Mar 20 (ANI): Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's wife, Asma, will be added to a European Union sanctions blacklist after leaked emails revealed that she had spent tens of thousands of pounds on Internet shopping.
Asma, 36, and other relatives of regime members will join 114 Syrians, topped by her husband, and 38 organisations subject to freezes on their assets and bank accounts in EU member states.
European diplomats said the decision to add Asma to the list would be taken on Friday at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, the Telegraph reports.
"A number of family members will be added to the list," the apper quoted a diplomatic source, as saying.
Like others already listed, Asma is likely to be subject to an EU travel ban, though this would not prevent her travelling to Britain, if she has retained her British citizenship.
Asma's role in Assad's inner circle has come under increased scrutiny after a trove emails written by them were leaked by opposition activists.
They showed that Asma shopped online in London and Paris, spending tens of thousands of pounds on jewels, furniture and a Venetian glass vase from Harrods.
According to the report, the EU froze "all funds and economic resources" belonging to "persons responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population" or "persons and entities associated with them".
Asma may already have violated sanctions with her online shopping spree that could expose her to prosecution.
The regulations prohibit EU citizens from making "funds or economic resources" available to anyone named on the list. (ANI)