Disputes erupt between Syria’s first lady, businessman over royalties
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Disputes have renewed recently between wife of Syrian President Asma al-Assad and a Syrian businessman and member of People’s Assembly of Syria, Hussam Qaterji, an informed source reported.
The source told North Press on the condition of anonymity that the disputes emerged due to Qaterji’s refusal to pay royalties to the “Secretive Office” chaired by the president’s wife.
According to the source, the Secretive Office is demanding a 40 percent share of Qaterji’s assets. As a result of his refusal, the office has frozen his funds and properties.
Previously, North Press obtained information about offices managed by Assad’s relatives, which were used to impose and collect heavy taxes and royalties on traders and industrialists who preferred to stay and continue their economic activities to leaving the country.
The Secretive Office, which acts as a direct council overseeing the country’s economy during the war, has vacated some of Qaterji’s main centers and offices in Damascus and Aleppo, including an office in the Laurus Hotel in al-Mohafaza neighborhood in the city of Aleppo, and another office in the Arman Hotel in the Hamadaniyehneighborhood.
In October 2023, various Arab and opposition media outlets circulated reports that Asma al-Assad had seized all of Qaterji’s properties. These reports coincided with other rumors suggesting that he had fled to Venezuela.
The source revealed to North Press that the purpose of imposing these royalties is to pressure Qaterji to distance himself from Iran and Maher al-Assad, as well as to weaken the flow of funds returning to Maher al-Assad and Iranian militias during this period.
It is worth noting that Qaterji manages and funds militia affiliated with him which supported the government forces during the war.