Syrians Returning Home Struggle to Reclaim Land Seized Under Assad Regime

Post-Regime Land Disputes in Syria

• 💡 Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have returned, only to find their land and homes seized under previous laws.
• 📌 In areas like Eastern Ghouta, property transactions made while under rebel control were canceled when the regime regained power, leaving many dispossessed.

Personal Stories of Loss and Displacement

• 🏠 Ferris Masa, a former detainee, recounts how his purchased flat was resold while he was in prison, forcing him and his family to rent and cut back on essentials.
• 💔 The struggle to survive is compounded by the collapse of the Syrian pound, making basic necessities and rent unaffordable for many returnees.

Local Reconciliation and Legal Challenges

• ⚖️ The Duma Reconciliation Council has been established to amicably settle disputes and facilitate the return of displaced people, as courts were in ruins.
• 🔑 Proving ownership is crucial for urban planning and renovation, but the Assad regime's laws disrupted all notions of property rights.

Systemic Expropriation and Clan Seizures

• 📈 In Al-Mo Damir, the mayor states that 85% of the town's land was seized since the 1970s for the benefit of the Assad clan, including for military bases.
• 🚫 Landowners received little to no compensation for properties seized by the state, with former regime loyalists often occupying these lands.

Eviction Tensions and New Authority Promises

• ⚠️ Families of former regime loyalists occupying seized land in areas like Samaria are facing eviction attempts by new authorities.
• 🤝 The governor of Damascus has stated that no one will be evicted without being offered alternative accommodation, aiming to calm rising tensions.