In millions reaching a billion… Secret office imposes taxes on Aleppo merchants

Several informed sources reported that the “Secret Economic Office” linked to the wife of Syrian President Asma al-Assad imposed exorbitant taxes on many shops in the al-Abbara area in Aleppo.

During our correspondents in Aleppo’s communication with a number of merchants in the region, they confirmed that they had received invoices last July and August, under the name “tax accumulation.”

Unexplained taxes

The majority of the shops in the al-Abbara area, if not all, were fined with bills exceeding 50 million Syrian pounds for retail shops, while wholesale shops or merchants had bills ranging between 60 and 100 million Syrian pounds.

The office also did not exempt small shops from paying, which can be classified as small projects, as the value of the declared taxes varies between 31-45 million Syrian pounds.

A number of merchants in al-Abbara area indicated to ANHA's correspondent that many shop owners closed their shops and sent a delegation to the capital to discuss with those in charge of the Secret Office’s work with the intention of canceling, reducing or paying it in installments, but instead of discussing, they were threatened in the event of failure to pay taxes on time or evasion. Among them, which raised the dissatisfaction of many of the remaining merchants of the city who were on the verge of making the decision to emigrate.

These taxes, of questionable legality, coincide with others imposed by the Ministry of Finance of the Damascus government on various sectors.

What is a secret office?

For those who do not know what the “Secret Office” is, the American newspaper “Financial Times” reported, in a detailed investigation, that this office consists of a small council led by Asma al-Assad from within the presidential palace, which undertakes the task of dominating and controlling Syria’s economy, to enrich the al-Assad family and empower its influence, in addition to... Securing funding for the operations of the country's government system.

The investigation mentioned the names of six individuals as permanent members of the office’s mini-council: Fares Kallas, Lina Al-Kannaya, Dana Bashkour, Luna Al-Shibl, Khader Ali Taher, and Yas's ar Ibrahim.

According to testimonies conducted by the newspaper with 18 people familiar with the office’s working mechanisms, including businessmen, company managers, employees of relief organizations, and former officials in Damascus government institutions, Asma al-Assad worked over many years to reinforce her domination by establishing group of "nepotism", relying on charitable and non-governmental organizations affiliated with her. , such as the "Syrian Trust for Development", while she personally controlled the flow of international aid funds to Syria.

In addition, Asma al-Assad worked to overthrow all businessmen and capital owners who were not loyal to her husband, and in cooperation with her husband and his brother Maher, she dismantled the traditional merchant class in Syria, and invented new methods that allowed the war to be exploited economically to create personal wealth, and her name became a symbol indicating this new economic system.

The influence that members of this office enjoy enables them to blackmail merchants, impose taxes, create obstacles for economic competitors, and even destroy their financial assets in Syria.

Billion liras tax

In the same context, the Finance Directorate of the Damascus government in the city of Aleppo imposed a tax worth one billion Syrian pounds on both the al-Dabit Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology, located in the al-Muhafaza neighborhood in the city of Aleppo, and the Dr. Abdullah Al-Mukaqi Dermatology Clinic, under the pretext of importing medical equipment from outside the country.

Observers considered that the new restrictions imposed on taxes make things worse, especially since the health sector in the areas of the Damascus government is dilapidated and suffers from neglect and a large migration of doctors, and that such practices will complicate issues and harm the sector.

T/ Satt.

ANHA