The regime is working to facilitate some Iranian companies, such as the Al Jehad construction company, which opened in Syria in 2015. Iran is working in cooperation with the regime to change the demographic features of Syria by exploiting its material needs and the difficult circumstances for residents in destroyed areas by imposing taxes on reconstruction in return for Iranian companies making attractive offers for construction.
In this context, Yahya (a 31-year-old refugee residing in Holland) spoke about the mechanism used by these companies based on his family’s situation in Aleppo.
Yahya said that his family owns a number of houses in Aleppo province, which were largely destroyed as a result of the regime’s continuous bombardment. He said that about a year and a half ago, his relatives in Syria were contacted by an Iranian company, which made them an offer to rebuild the houses, making them modern and fully equipped, in exchange, the company would acquire the property for between seven and 10 years, and the family would receive a monthly rental of 50 to 100 dollars.
He added, “Many residents have submitted to the offer because of their material inability to rebuild their homes, especially given that the regime is tightening the screws on their ability to return to the area, and imposing various exhausting taxes on those who try to rebuild their homes. Finance employees mock residents who object to paying taxes on the destruction left to them after the war.”
The exhausting measures from the regime against refugee properties and homes are a worrying factor for refugees, as well as the host countries, and arbitrary decisions of the regime have received criticism from some of these countries, such as Germany and Lebanon, who say that the regime is intentionally preventing refugees from returning to their homes.
This is likewise true for the ongoing arrests of those who return to Syria, and the conscription of people between the ages of 18 to 42 is a major reason that refugees fear returning to their country.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
