Syrian Regime Cancels Opposition Conference in Damascus

Traffic in Damascus (AFP)
Traffic in Damascus (AFP)
TT
20

Syrian Regime Cancels Opposition Conference in Damascus

Traffic in Damascus (AFP)
Traffic in Damascus (AFP)

The Syrian regime canceled the founding conference of the opposition National Democratic Front after security services stormed into the venue, banning anyone from entering.

Preparatory committee sources said that security agents contacted the Secretary-General of the Arab Democratic Socialist Union Party, Ahmed al-Asrawi, on Friday and informed him that the founding conference is canceled, unless they obtained the necessary green light from the competent authorities, after submitting a request to the Minister of Interior.

The General Coordinator of the National Coordination Committee, Hassan Abdulazim, announced the conference was postponed because the authorities also sent the state security agents and police forces to the site and banned the media from covering the developments.

The media office of the conference’s preparatory committee announced that the Syrian regime canceled the founding conference, which was set to be held on Saturday morning in Damascus.

In its statement, the committee asserted it will continue to hold meetings to take the appropriate decision regarding the formation of the National Democratic Front.

The committee also considered the regime’s ban of its peaceful civil action a "repressive criminal act" in violation of human rights and international law.

It held the regime, the states supporting it, and influential parties responsible for the security and safety of the comrades and colleagues, calling for “diplomatic, international, and UN intervention” to ensure their security.

The statement explained that security agents contacted the participants on Friday night, and warned them that the security authorities will stop the conference from taking place under the pretext that it does not have a license from the so-called “party affairs committee.”

The preparatory committee also called on all Syrians to boycott the presidential elections in June, describing them as illegal.

Earlier, Abdulazim called for boycotting the presidential election, scheduled for the summer, saying it was “illegal” and a “farce.”

Asharq Al-Awsat published a draft statement of the conference, which called for the “restructuring of the security agencies and building of a national army” and the “withdrawal of all non-Syrian armies and militias”.

The document presented a set of proposals including a radical regime change and removal of all foreign forces and militias from Syria.

It also called for a political solution based on the international legitimacy - Geneva 1 and UN Resolution 2254 - to form a transitional governing body with full executive powers that allows for the establishment of a new constitution and holds fair elections under UN supervision, which results in a civil state.

The National Coordination body that called for the conference, includes the National Democratic Rally, most notably the Democratic Arab Socialist Union.

It had announced, through foreign media, its intention to hold a founding conference, the first of its kind in Damascus in nine years, to launch a new political alliance called the National Democratic Front.



Lebanon Bans Dealing with Hezbollah Financial Entity

A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
TT
20

Lebanon Bans Dealing with Hezbollah Financial Entity

A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo

Lebanon's central bank has banned banks and brokerages from dealing with a Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution, according to a circular, a sign of the group's diminished sway over state affairs since its devastating war with Israel.

Keeping up military pressure on the Iran-backed group, Israel on Tuesday launched some of its heaviest airstrikes since a ceasefire in November, saying it hit training camps and weapons depots in east Lebanon. A security source in Lebanon said 12 people were killed, five of them Hezbollah fighters, Reuters reported.

Hezbollah has faced mounting pressures since the war, including financial ones.

In the circular, dated July 14 and reviewed by Reuters, Banque du Liban prohibited all licensed financial institutions in Lebanon from dealing directly or indirectly with unlicensed entities and listed Hezbollah's Al-Qard Al-Hassan as an example.

The US Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on Al-Qard Al-Hassan in 2007, saying Hezbollah used it as a cover to manage "financial activities and gain access to the international financial system".

Bolstered by its powerful arsenal, Hezbollah had long exercised decisive influence over Lebanese state affairs, but it was unable to impose its will in the formation of a post-war government in February.

Al-Qard Al-Hassan, founded in 1983, describes itself as a charitable organisation which provides loans to people according to Islamic principles that forbid interest. Israel struck some of its branches during its war with Hezbollah last year.

Operating as a not-for-profit organisation under a licence granted by the Lebanese government, it has more than 30 branches, mostly in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

SHADOW ECONOMY

A Lebanese official said the central bank move had been in the works for months, and reflected US pressure on Lebanon to take action against Hezbollah's financial wing.

Nassib Ghobril, chief economist at Byblos Bank, said Lebanese banks were already careful to avoid dealing with Al-Qard Al-Hassan because it is under US sanctions.

"The important point is that finally the authorities are addressing the shadow economy in Lebanon, which is the real problem," he said, adding that authorities had long failed to address its "toxic effects".

In June, the European Commission included Lebanon in an updated list of high-risk jurisdictions presenting strategic deficiencies in their national anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.

Last year, global financial crime watchdog FATF placed Lebanon on its "grey list" of countries under special scrutiny.