Home seizures in Ish al-Warwar neighborhood of Damascus

Dozens of families living in the Ish al-Warwar neighborhood, northeast of Damascus, are facing systematic home seizures by armed groups. The mayor, originally from the Barzeh area, is accused of "colluding" with these groups and facilitating the illegal seizure of property, according to a report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In detail, at least 50 homes were seized amid an atmosphere of intimidation affecting residents. Many were forced to leave their homes under threat of arrest or detention by the Damascus authorities on pre-existing charges of "shabiha" or "involvement in crimes during the Ba'athist regime," making them wanted by the General Security.

Others reported that those who attempted to protest or demand their rights were insulted and arrested, forcing some to leave the area permanently.

According to SOHR, the fear of security prosecution, insults, or arrest is driving many to refrain from filing official complaints or revealing their identities for fear of reprisals.

In the same context, the groups seizing the properties justify their actions by claiming that the lands on which the homes are located belong to them or that they were previously confiscated by the state. This is despite the fact that most of these properties are classified as state property or usufruct land and do not bear official ownership documents, which facilitates the process of imposing control over them.

The SOHR quoted a resident as confirming the residents' inability to confront these armed groups. He pointed out that many of the elements involved in the seizures are residents of the neighborhood who had left during the war years and later returned, imposing their control by force of arms, in the clear absence of any legal oversight or accountability.

These violations reflect a state of legal chaos and a lack of accountability in some neighborhoods of the capital, Damascus, which exacerbates the suffering of residents and undermines their confidence in any official efforts to restore their rights or ensure a minimum level of security and stability in their areas.

T/S
ANHA