Abusing against Syrians continues | “Permitting taboos for money”: new way for imposing levies on residents in HTS-controlled areas
Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham imposes levies and taxes on residents under different pretexts in order to collect as much money as they can from people, disregarding to their daily life needs. Recently, HTS imposed levies in return for permitting some actions that it had previously prohibited such as holding weddings parties, music parties, smoking water pipe “Arkila” and other acts.
The Syrian Observatory has monitored that owners of cafes, restaurants and swimming pools appeal for getting license to serve water pipe to customers in their coffee shops. Many of such places have been already licensed and are now prevalent in big cities and towns, as the number of these licensed shops has been risen to about 24 and they are distributed as follows:
- Idlib city: there are five restaurants, cafes and swimming pools.
- Deir Hassan district: there are eight places.
- Kafr Takharim and Armanaz towns: there are six places.
- Salqin town: there is one rest house.
- Dana and Sarmada towns: there are four restaurants, cafes and swimming pools.
Meanwhile, the licensing process for “Arkila” is still ongoing.
The cost of the license approximates 200 to 500 US dollars paid to the “Ministry of Economy and Resources” of the “Salvation Government” by some leaders in Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham or by officials in the “Salvation Government”. Despite the licensing process being ongoing, there was a total blackout by HTS regarding this procedure which has not been declared officially, as it used to do with similar decisions. This explains why there are no many water pipe licensees in restaurants, cafes and swimming pools, especially with these licenses being granted secretly and to specific individuals who have connections with influential officials only. “Wedding perdition” which allows musical instruments, singing….etc, has become common among the region’s residents, as everyone can get a permit for allowing singing and dance during wedding parties in public for nearly 50 US dollars.
In the past, HTS considered these acts against “Sharia” and banned them. Moreover, HTS had punish anyone did such acts by jail and seizing his place’s equipment.
Local sources have told the Syrian Observatory that “Tahrir al-Sham” reacted badly against violators, like it did during the wedding party of a young man known as A.R. in July 2020. At that time, HTS stormed the young man’s wedding party in Salqin city in north Idlib countryside, the groom was arrested with some of his relatives, and musical equipment was seized, under the pretext that “this party was legally prohibited and against the principles of Sharia”. A few hours later the young man was released after some powerful figures mediated. On the other hand, the owner of restaurants or coffee shops that served “Arkila“ to customers were exposed to be arrested, the place’s equipment would be sized, and sometimes the place was shut completely.
A displaced young man known as A.M. from Qalaat al Madiq in west Hama countryside and now living in Dair Hassan district in the northern countryside of Idlib. A.M. lately opened his own park and swimming pool and asked for the help of an HTS commander to obtain a license to serve water pipes (Arkila) to increase his income.
A.M told the Syrian Observatory “after the opening of my project and after the high turnout for the swimming pool because of high temperatures, my customers started to demand me to serve (Arkila), so I started trying to get a license with the help of an HTS leader I knew, but unfortunately that leader asked for 600 US dollars to issue an official license for both swimming pool and serving of (Arkila). As a result of shortage of money, I decided to delay license issue for a while.”
Another man known as K.M. who is the owner of a coffee shop in Kafr Takharim shared his experience with SOHR as he could get a license for serving (Arkila). The man said “I paid about 300 US dollars to an employee of the “Salvation Government”, who gave me a license signed by the Directorate of Supply. This license allows me to serve (Arkila) to customers on condition to serve it in a separate hole in the coffee shop without mixing between men and women. My profit has significantly increased due to the turn out by youth on my café. Moreover, some of Tahrir al-Sham members smoke (Arkila) too, and I recognize many of them.”
Another displaced person known as R.M. from south Idlib countryside and now living in Deir Hassan area in the northern countryside of Idlib, has told SOHR that licensed wedding ceremonies and parties are granted daily in the area in public and in full view of HTS. Furthermore, some popular singers and artists started performing in these parties and ceremonies actively.
R.M. explained “previously, we used to hold wedding ceremonies and parties inside homes or ceremony halls, but now, a party’s owner can pay levies and get a license, and then he will enjoy his party with music, singing and celebratory gunfire for several days and without any harassment by HTS.”
It is worth mentioning that Hayat Tahrir al Sham, since its involvement in the Syrian conflict under the name Jabhat al-Nusra had been famous for its radicalism and restriction upon civilians in areas under its control, which led to the death and arrest of many civilians.