We call her Emma | Tortoise Investigates
By The Observer
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Rate for this podcast
Subscribers: 2435
Reviews: 11
Episodes: 123
Apr 27, 2026
Excellent investigative journalism.
Jul 29, 2025
Pax
Nov 12, 2024
Very biased narrative!!!
Jul 23, 2023
Apr 27, 2023
Feb 28, 2022
Feb 22, 2022
Feb 3, 2022
Jan 1, 2022
It's interesting but I still had questions once it was over and found it hard to fully believe.
Alonzo
Dec 22, 2021
Interesting, great story telling, different, and worth your time.
Nov 11, 2021
Description
Emma is a high achieving, middle class girl from west London. She seems destined for a successful career in banking and a comfortable British life. Until she makes a decision that will come to define her. In 2001 Emma marries Bashar al-Assad - the now infamous dictator of Syria.
In the early days, people inside and out of Syria dared to hope. Alongside his beautiful, progressive wife, Bashar promised to modernise the country.
But when the Arab Spring reached Syria in 2011, Bashar's regime showed itself for what it really was: a brutal force, willing to capture and kill ordinary Syrians demanding change. And in all the years that a war raged on, Asma stands by her husband. She seemingly ignored the desperate pleas to stop her husband from killing his own people.
But what did she really know about the atrocities her husband’s government was carrying out? And what choices did she really have? Some people allege that she actually assisted the regime and cashed in on the war, that she herself is a war criminal. Others say she tried to run away but was trapped, held hostage by a regime who threatened her life and her children.
So, who is the real Emma?
We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.
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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.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
|
Asma’s choice | We call her Emma Ep3
|
Jul 21, 2026 |
|
Diana of Damascus | We call her Emma Ep2
|
Jul 14, 2026 |
|
The girl from Acton | We call her Emma Ep1
|
Jul 07, 2026 |
|
Introducing...We call her Emma
|
Jul 01, 2026 |
|
Under one roof | Foundling Ep 2
|
Mar 24, 2026 |
|
On the verge | Foundling Ep 1
|
Mar 24, 2026 |
|
Introducing... Foundling
|
Mar 17, 2026 |
|
The Missing Book | The Walkers Ep7
|
Feb 17, 2026 |
|
The Letters | The Walkers Ep6
|
Feb 10, 2026 |
|
The French Quarter | The Walkers Ep5
|
Feb 03, 2026 |
|
The Miracle | The Walkers Ep4
|
Jan 27, 2026 |
|
Cider at Haye | The Walkers Ep3
|
Jan 20, 2026 |
|
On the path | The Walkers Ep2
|
Jan 13, 2026 |
|
The Missing Money | The Walkers Ep1
|
Jan 13, 2026 |
|
Introducing... The Walkers: The real Salt Path
|
Jan 07, 2026 |
|
In good faith | Deep Water Ep6
|
Dec 16, 2025 |
|
Click Bait | Deep Water Ep5
|
Dec 09, 2025 |
|
Don’t hold your breath | Deep Water Ep4
|
Dec 02, 2025 |
|
In the bag | Deep Water Ep3
|
Nov 25, 2025 |
|
Fair Play | Deep Water Ep2
|
Nov 18, 2025 |
|
Depth Wish | Deep Water Ep1
|
Nov 18, 2025 |
|
Introducing ... Deep Water
|
Nov 11, 2025 |
|
Myths and monsters | The Lab Detective Ep4
|
Aug 05, 2025 |
|
Science versus the law | The Lab Detective Ep3
|
Jul 29, 2025 |
|
The eureka moment | The Lab Detective Ep2
|
Jul 22, 2025 |
|
Three is murder | The Lab Detective Ep1
|
Jul 22, 2025 |
|
Introducing...The Lab Detective
|
Jul 15, 2025 |
|
An update on the story | Lucky Boy
|
Jun 06, 2025 |
|
Lucky Boys | Lucky Boy Ep4
|
Mar 10, 2025 |
|
The school | Lucky Boy Ep3
|
Mar 04, 2025 |
|
The relationship | Lucky Boy Ep2
|
Feb 25, 2025 |
|
Gareth | Lucky Boy Ep1
|
Feb 25, 2025 |
|
Introducing...Lucky Boy
|
Feb 25, 2025 |
|
A star is born | Elon's Spies Ep4
|
Nov 12, 2024 |
|
Amber | Elon's Spies Ep3
|
Oct 22, 2024 |
|
Horrible human being | Elon's Spies Ep2
|
Oct 15, 2024 |
|
Pedo guy | Elon's Spies Ep1
|
Oct 08, 2024 |
|
Introducing...Elon's Spies
|
Oct 01, 2024 |
|
The lawsuit | Master Ep 7
|
Sep 14, 2024 |
|
The phone calls | Master Ep 6
|
Sep 12, 2024 |
|
The NDAs | Master Ep 5
|
Sep 12, 2024 |
|
The fan | Master Ep 4
|
Sep 12, 2024 |
|
The pond | Master Ep 3
|
Sep 12, 2024 |
|
The Whatsapps | Master Ep 2
|
Sep 12, 2024 |
|
The bath | Master Ep 1
|
Sep 12, 2024 |
|
Lightbulbs | Dangerous Memories Ep 6
|
Aug 06, 2024 |
|
Who is Anne? | Dangerous Memories Ep 5
|
Jul 30, 2024 |
|
The ‘other person' | Dangerous Memories Ep 4
|
Jul 23, 2024 |
|
Do not say my name | Dangerous Memories Ep 3
|
Jul 16, 2024 |
|
The Seagull | Dangerous Memories Ep 2
|
Jul 09, 2024 |
|
That amazing healer lady | Dangerous Memories Ep 1
|
Jul 09, 2024 |
|
Introducing...Dangerous Memories
|
Jun 28, 2024 |
|
Devil's breath | The Gas Man Ep 6
|
Jun 13, 2024 |
|
Truth serum | The Gas Man Ep 5
|
Jun 11, 2024 |
|
The other Gas Man | The Gas Man Ep 4
|
Jun 06, 2024 |
|
The escape | The Gas Man Ep 3
|
Jun 04, 2024 |
|
The sting | The Gas Man Ep 2
|
May 28, 2024 |
|
The special agent | The Gas Man Ep 1
|
May 28, 2024 |
|
Introducing...The Gas Man
|
May 21, 2024 |
|
Who Trolled Amber: Live
|
May 20, 2024 |
|
Public enemy | Who Trolled Amber Ep 6
|
Mar 26, 2024 |
|
The special relationship | Who Trolled Amber Ep 5
|
Mar 19, 2024 |
|
Through the looking glass | Who Trolled Amber Ep 4
|
Mar 12, 2024 |
|
Into the dark | Who Trolled Amber Ep 3
|
Mar 05, 2024 |
|
Gold dust | Who Trolled Amber Ep 2
|
Feb 27, 2024 |
|
Missing evidence | Who Trolled Amber Ep 1
|
Feb 27, 2024 |
|
Introducing: Who Trolled Amber?
|
Feb 20, 2024 |
|
The confidence game | Walter's War Ep 4
|
Nov 30, 2023 |
|
The rebellion | Walter's War Ep 3
|
Nov 28, 2023 |
|
The secret life of Walter Mitty | Walter's War Ep 2
|
Nov 23, 2023 |
|
An English gentleman | Walter's War Ep 1
|
Nov 21, 2023 |
|
Introducing: Walter's War
|
Nov 09, 2023 |
|
The movement | Dr Anti-vax Ep 3
|
Nov 07, 2023 |
|
The rock star | Dr Anti-vax Ep 2
|
Oct 31, 2023 |
|
The fall | Dr Anti-vax Ep 1
|
Oct 24, 2023 |
|
Introducing: Dr Anti-vax
|
Oct 16, 2023 |
|
Trump and Rudy | Ep 3
|
Oct 09, 2023 |
|
Trump and Rudy | Ep 2
|
Oct 09, 2023 |
|
Trump and Rudy | Ep 1
|
Oct 09, 2023 |
|
Inquiry | Three Doors Down Ep 5
|
Oct 02, 2023 |
|
Conviction | Three Doors Down Ep 4
|
Oct 02, 2023 |
|
Confession | Three Doors Down Ep 3
|
Oct 02, 2023 |
|
Rumours | Three Doors Down Ep 2
|
Oct 02, 2023 |
|
Missing | Three Doors Down Ep 1
|
Oct 02, 2023 |
|
Introducing: Three doors down
|
Oct 02, 2023 |
|
The whole truth | Into the Dirt Ep 6
|
Sep 25, 2023 |
|
The verge | Into the Dirt Ep 5
|
Sep 25, 2023 |
|
Chicken feed | Into the Dirt Ep 4
|
Sep 25, 2023 |
|
Poison into medicine | Into the Dirt Ep 3
|
Sep 25, 2023 |
|
Project Spring | Into the Dirt Ep 2
|
Sep 25, 2023 |
|
The truth | Into the Dirt Ep 1
|
Sep 25, 2023 |
|
Introducing: Into the Dirt
|
Sep 25, 2023 |
|
Gender GP | The Tavistock Ep 7
|
Sep 18, 2023 |
|
The real scandal | The Tavistock Ep 6
|
Sep 18, 2023 |
|
The noise | The Tavistock Ep 5
|
Sep 18, 2023 |
|
The enemy within | The Tavistock Ep 4
|
Sep 18, 2023 |
|
Thin ice | The Tavistock Ep 3
|
Sep 18, 2023 |
|
The broom cupboard | The Tavistock Ep 2
|
Sep 18, 2023 |
|
A verdict | The Tavistock Ep 1
|
Sep 18, 2023 |
|
Introducing: The Tavistock
|
Sep 18, 2023 |
|
Out there | Pig Iron Ep 7
|
Sep 11, 2023 |
|
The rope | Pig Iron Ep 6
|
Sep 11, 2023 |
|
Kaya | Pig Iron Ep 5
|
Sep 11, 2023 |
|
The kaleidoscope | Pig Iron Ep 4
|
Sep 11, 2023 |
|
The lonely impulse | Pig Iron Ep 3
|
Sep 11, 2023 |
|
Spring break | Pig Iron Ep 2
|
Sep 11, 2023 |
|
White rebel | Pig Iron Ep 1
|
Sep 11, 2023 |
|
Introducing: Pig Iron
|
Sep 11, 2023 |
|
Bonnie and Clyde | Hoaxed Ep 6
|
Sep 04, 2023 |
|
The Healer | Hoaxed Ep 5
|
Sep 04, 2023 |
|
Infiltration | Hoaxed Ep 4
|
Sep 04, 2023 |
|
The Avengers | Hoaxed Ep 3
|
Sep 04, 2023 |
|
Ella's list | Hoaxed Ep 2
|
Sep 04, 2023 |
|
Secrets and lies | Hoaxed Ep 1
|
Sep 04, 2023 |
|
Introducing: Hoaxed
|
Sep 04, 2023 |
|
Motive | Sweet Bobby Ep 6
|
Dec 02, 2021 |
|
(In)justice | Sweet Bobby Ep 5
|
Nov 25, 2021 |
|
Dark triads | Sweet Bobby Ep 4
|
Nov 18, 2021 |
|
Confession | Sweet Bobby Ep 3
|
Nov 11, 2021 |
|
Witness protection | Sweet Bobby Ep 2
|
Nov 04, 2021 |
|
Sliding doors | Sweet Bobby Ep 1
|
Oct 27, 2021 |
|
Introducing: Sweet Bobby
|
Oct 18, 2021 |
|
Introducing ... Tortoise Investigates
|
Oct 16, 2021 |