Iran buys properties, boosts presence in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Attiyah sold his land, his main source of income for many years, to an Iran-linked broker for less than half of its value.
About two months ago, Attiyah Abdulqader, a resident of the town of Abbas, in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, east Syria, sold his land, located on the bank of the Euphrates River, which was his main source of livelihood, to a broker working for Iranians in Deir ez-Zor, due to economic difficulties he was suffering under, as people in the areas held by the pro-Iranian factions in Syria are under economic strain.
The deteriorating living conditions in Deir ez-Zor and the government’s deliberate neglect of the region forced residents to sell their properties. Most of the time, the buyer is of Iranian nationality.
During the early days of Syria’s civil war, Iran teamed up with Russia to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against the oppositions, through which it increased the size of its military presence in different Syrian regions.
To expand the Iranian influence in Deir ez-Zor, in particular, and Syria in general, these Iranian affiliates take advantage of the deteriorating living conditions, as they deploy local brokers to buy real estate, land, and civilians’ homes. Residents say the government is complicit trying to push residents to sell their properties.
Abdulqader sold his land for $11,000 to a person called al-Amir, who works for the Iranians in the city of Deir ez-Zor. He said that he had no choice but to sell his only plot of land, because he had to pay debts.
After government forces and pro-Iranian factions took control of the region in late 2017, Iran began to gradually penetrate Deir ez-Zor, building cultural centres which called for Shiism, according to previous reports published by North Press.
Nasser al-Nasser, a pseudonym for a man from al-Dwair, in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, was harassed by members affiliated with one of the prominent real estate dealers in Deir ez-Zor, called Firas al-Jaham, upon being released from Hawl Camp, which houses over 51,000 ISIS suspects.
Those affiliated with al-Jaham exploited their strong ties and affiliation with the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and forced al-Nasser to sell his house and the two-acre-land that he owned.
Al-Nasser told North Press that he contacted al-Jaham and outlined to him the harassment of his local agents, “who are forcing me to sell my house and land at a low price, but al-Jaham assured me that I am wanted by the government apparatus.”
Al-Nasser decided to sell his land and the house, fearing being targeted by those members if he refused selling them his properties.
He tried to get a good amount, but whenever a merchant came to inspect the house and land, he were threatened by Firas al-Jaham’s brokers. Nobody wanted to buy his properties.
“In the end, al-Jaham bought them with for only 120 million Syrian pounds [$13,800], knowing that the actual value exceeds 300 million [$34,500],” al-Nasser noted.
Iranian groups in Deir ez-Zor are focused on spreading Shiism among the residents, in addition to acquiring real estate through local brokers, in order to impose a demographic change, which achieves Iran’s political interests and ambitions.
There are more than four large networks of brokers in Deir ez-Zor, the largest of which is led by Khalid al-Bakari, who is close to the IRGC; and Firas al-Jaham, the IRGC’s right–hand man.
The brokers are active in the areas of Abukamal, al-Mayadin, and the city of Deir ez-Zor, according to activists in Deir ez-Zor.
During the past two years, many residents of Abukamal and its neighbouring villages, as well as the residents of al-Mayadin and its neighbouring villages, sold their properties and moved to live in areas held by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) or immigrated out of the country due to poverty, the Syrian government’s brutal policies, and the lack of security caused by the Iranian infiltration, according to local sources in the region.
Local activists point out that, two years ago, brokers working for the Iranians in the region bought the properties of more than 300 people in Abukamal and its countryside, as well as more than half of the property and real estate in the city of al-Mayadin in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.
The town of al-Mayadin has become of a “purely Shiite character,” say residents, after the establishment of Hussainiya (Shiite worship places) and cultural centers there, as well as the residence of Iranian militants in the town.