Reports | 25 05 2020
Al-Nusra Front [NF] has expropriated more than 12 houses in the city of Kafranbel in the Idlib countryside. These expropriations are rather new, and have causes!
Haitham Darwish’s family in Kafranbel are now without home or roof. Their house’s doors have been sealed by the NF; the reason being that Haitham works in one of the branches of Recruitment Division of the Syrian regime’s Army, in the city of Idlib.
Says his wife: "My husband had already defected from the regime, but returned to his job at the request of Kafranbel rebels. They gave as their reason that he would, thus, through his position be able to assist school and university students to obtain mandatory [military] service deferments.
Haitham had, in fact, returned to his job taking advantage of a presidential pardon for dissidents, driven by the people of his area inviting him back, and to support his family of seven.
Following the [NF-affiliated] Jaish al-Fath [army of conquest] controlling the city of Idlib last April/May, the man was detained for two months, in an NF detention center in Kensafra in the Jabal al-Zawiyah. Today, his whereabouts are unknown.
“As if concern over the fate of my husband—the father of my children—is not enough! NF elements comes up, and order us to leave the house, which they expropriated!” says Haitham’s wife.
So, How Many Houses Have Been Expropriated in Kafranbel?
The city of Kafranbel lies in the Idlib countryside, northwest Syria, under the Maarat al-Nu’man provincial council. It has fallen under NF authority since earlier this year and, since then, the NF’s Al-Qaeda-inspired laws and decisions, are enforced.
One of the NF’s decisions—that seem unjustified to some—was the expropriation of the homes of regime institutions’ employees; much as had happened with Haitham. So far, more than 12 houses in the city have fallen under its grip.
One of those houses belongs to Kafranbel resident Nazim al-Kabsh. His house was expropriated by the NF, despite the fact that it housed a family of eight. The reason given was, that one of his sons still serves in the Syrian regime’s army.
"What is our fault, us parents, to confiscate our homes? Our sons do only as they themselves please," Nazim says, adding: "Some of our children have joined the NF, without first consulting with, or obtaining our prior consent as parents. Some of them joined Revolutionary factions, some joined Daesh [ISIS], and others chose to stay with the regime. Each took their own direction, and we as parents, have no say in this at all.”
Before the NF’s ultimatum was up for the family to leave their home; news came of the death of their son serving in the regime’s army. And while some Kafranbel residents displayed doubts as to the veracity of these accounts, while others confirmed it; the NF still pressed ahead with the expropriation, regardless.
Conditional and Temporary Authorization!
There are some families that have remained in their homes in Kafranbel—the fact that one of its members continues to work in regime institutions notwithstanding. The house, however, no longer belongs to its true owners!
Zuhair Rahhal, owner of another house expropriated by the NF, still serves in the regime army the capital Damascus. His family, including his wife, children, and parents, continue to live in Kafranbel.
Recently, the family were evicted from their house, and it was sealed off with red wax. After numerous pleas and intercessions, the NF granted them approval to remain “temporarily” in their house—with the NF retaining ownership thereof.
In this regard, Zuhair’s father questions: "This place houses us—his parents and his family. My son Zuhair is in no way the beneficiary of the house, as long as he remains in Damascus, and does not come here at all. Why, then, take revenge on his family and not him personally?"
What is the People's Opinion?
The city of Kafranbel is famed for being staunchly pro-Syrian Revolution with its witty and insightful placards, and its fearless criticism of anything. Its residents, however, now hold divergent views vis-a-vis the NF’s decision to expropriate homes from families if one of their members continued to work for the regime institutions. Some have come out in favor of such a decision, while others rejected it.
"...And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another [Qur’an, 35:18]; that is what God says in this matter,” confirms Shaykh Abdullah, a Kafranbel resident, adding: "Therefore people should not be tied to other people’s faults."
According to him, the NF ought to hold the person in question himself accountable, rather than penalize his family. "What is their fault, that they be displaced and expelled from their homes?" the Shaykh asks.
Abu Fares, a Free Syrian Army [FSA] fighter, is of a different opinion. He explains: "There is no harm in the NF expropriating their homes. Maybe this way they will learn that, by staying with the Assad regime, they not only condemn themselves—but also their families, to no longer possessing even a square inch in the liberated areas."
Nusra Front Motives!
What about the NF’s motives behind such decisions? What are its objectives? The answers to these questions can be found in the words of NF fighters, as well as in their behavior, and the ideas they hold.
Abu Jaafar, an NF fighter, asserts: "The homes of these traitors are the right of the Mujahideen, who came from far and wide to stand with the Syrian people in their ordeal, fighting with them against [the regime’s] injustice and brutality."
Abu Jaafar places the onus of the decisions by individuals who chose to remain with the regime, onto their families as well. In his view, the mujahideen deserve these houses far more than these families.
He explains: "These Mujahideen should have places sheltering them and their families. Are they not more deserving of the regime’s shabeeha [thug militias]? Those who preferred to remain with the criminal regime to assist it in the murder of their countrymen; while these mujahideen left their countries and families, rushing for jihad in the land of al-Sham [Syria] in support to its people?”
The NF's decision to expropriate homes in Kafranbel is not the first of its kind. The NF has taken a number of measures, including the dissolution of the local council, later rehabilitating it after one month with a fresh new cadre and new members. It also dissolved the security apparatus in Kafranbel, particularly the [civil] police force, which has not been rehabilitated to date.