Damascus, July 8 (ANI): A key aide of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad will be awarded a prestigious degree by one of Britain's top universities, according to e-mails obtained by Wikileaks.
The aide, Lamis Omar, has been studying for a doctorate at Durham University, and is likely to receive her PhD in September, The Daily Mail reports.
E-mails obtained suggest that Omar has a close friendship with Assad.
Fellow students said Omar had a large picture of the dictator on the wall of her home in the university.
Officials at Durham University, however, have refused to say whether the institution has accepted money from Assad's regime in tuition fees.
Durham University said: "We do not comment on the financial circumstances of individual students. Durham University does not have any formal or active links with the Syrian Government."
The e-mails reveal that for the past four years, Omar has been working in Assad's own department, known as the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
In more than 800 e-mails exchanged between the pair, they appear to have a close friendship, in which she repeatedly said that she 'loves' him.
In the e-mails she referred to Assad, who has been married to British-born Asma, 37, for 12 years, as the 'sponsor' of her course.
Tory MP Robert Halfon said: 'Ethical questions need to be asked as to why Durham University is providing an education to a member of the Assad regime. (ANI)
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