Hayat Tahrir al-Sham imposes construction tax on Syria’s Idlib residents
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), the political arm of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has imposed a decision preventing the construction of any residential or commercial building, whether public or private, within the areas it controls in northwestern Syria without paying taxes and royalties.
Local sources told North Press that the Salvation Government imposed fees estimated at between 50 cents to $1.50 on every square meter under construction.
The local source mentioned that the decision was met with discontent among residents, especially the displaced, most of whom began building concrete houses after their tents sank in rainstorms and torrents.
In September 2020, the Local Administration and Services in the Salvation Government issued a decision to prevent the construction of residential buildings without permits, and it has started implementing the decision recently, according to the sources.
On the second of this month, the SSG prevented the displaced from building concrete houses after imposing a license tax on the residents that is “beyond their capabilities.”
The SSG also imposed taxes and fees on the displaced in camps located within lands known to be state property north of Idlib governorate in early November 2020.