Assad regime has confiscated $1.5billion in assets from detainees, ADMSP

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Association of Detainees and the Missing at Saydnaya Prison (ADMSP) issued a report, on Friday, estimating that the “Syrian regime” has seized a staggering $1.5 billion worth of assets from detainees since the Syrian war started in 2011, exploiting the suffering of people it forcibly disappears and detains for financial gain.

Assets the Syrian government seized include cash, property, businesses, items such as electronic devices, jewellery, agricultural equipment and even livestock and poultry.

The $1.5 billion estimate was calculated based on information gathered from 105 former detainees who were stripped of their land, property and other material assets through official court orders and other official decisions.

However the true figure is likely to be higher since the findings of the report indicate the majority of assets are seized unofficially.

In recent years, the Syrian currency depreciated against the USD, and the US imposed sanctions against Syria called as Caesar Act. As a result, the regime has been forced to search for other sources of revenue including extorting money from family members of detainees, seizing businesses and taking control of their assets.

Former detainees interviewed for the report issued by ADMSP said they had lost their homes and businesses and were left destitute upon their release – on top of struggling to deal with the physical and psychological scars of the horrifying abuse, torture and sexual violence they endured in detention.

“These findings must spur the international community to push for the release of all those who have been unlawfully detained and an end to torture, and other cruel and inhuman treatment in detention as well as halting the regime’s callous policy of confiscating detainee assets,” ADMSP said.

Reporting by Sara Youssef

Editing by Jwan Shkaki