Rifaat al-Assad returns to Syria

Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of the Syria president, Bashar al-Assad
Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of the Syria president, Bashar al-Assad

QANISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syrian president Bashar al-Assad allowed his exiled uncle, Rifaat al-Assad to return to Syria, the pro-government newspaper al-Watan said yesterday on Friday.

Rifaat al-Assad was sentenced to imprisonment in France for money laundering within an organized gang and embezzlement of funds. 

“Refaat al-Assad arrived in Damascus on October 7, in order not to be imprisoned in France, after a court ruling was issued,” the newspaper added.

Last month, the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed a four-year prison sentence imposed on Rifaat al-Assad, and the confiscation of a fortune estimated at 90 million euros.

The newspaper pointed out that Rifaat al-Assad returned to Syria on Thursday and “will not have any political or social roles.”