In recent years, many residents of Syria’s eastern province of Deir ez-Zor have been victims of coercion and extortion targeting their private properties. Armed groups affiliated with Iran pressured locals to sell homes and lands at a fraction of their actual value under threats of violence or false accusations. Today, after the downfall of the former regime, citizens are seeking justice and reclaiming their stolen rights through legal channels and public advocacy.
Forced Sales with Legal Cover
Ahmad Nweiser (50), a resident of Al-Mayadeen in eastern Deir ez-Zor, recounts:
“In 2018, after Iran-backed militias took over our area, I was harassed because I refused to rent out my house in Al-Tammo neighbourhood. They threatened me with jail or extortion if I didn’t give it up. They offered 20 million SYP, though it was worth more than 70 million. I initially refused, until they returned with an armed group.”
He told +963 in its 7th edition: “I had no legal recourse, the courts were under their control. I tried going through tribal leaders, but the threats only got worse. Eventually, I agreed out of fear for my children. I have witnesses, messages, and audio recordings proving it was a forced sale. This house was all we had after the war.”
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Hussein Al-Latif (41) from Al Bukamal, on the Syria-Iraq border, shared a similar story.
“A local commander aligned with Iran told me my house was needed for military use. If I didn’t sell it at a symbolic price, it would be seized by force. I refused. They cut off electricity, water, and blocked my kids from going to school.”
“Currently, the house is occupied by a local family from our town, the family of a former member of the Iranian-backed militias who has since fled to an unknown location. They hold property documents, but I insist those were obtained through coercion and violence. I still have ownership papers dating back to my father’s time, but they forced me to sign over the house in front of a lawyer affiliated with them. They even threatened the witnesses. We’re not alone, there are hundreds like us across Deir ez-Zor province.” Al-Latif added.
Abdul-Halim Al-Mohammad from rural Al Bukamal described how his home, previously used by ISIS for its strategic location near the Euphrates River, became a target.
“After ISIS left, brokers linked to the Iranian Cultural Centre began harassing me daily to hand it over. When I refused, patrols accused me of shooting at militia positions.”
He urged the new authorities to investigate the situation: “My home is now occupied by a broker’s family who bought it under threat. They refuse to leave, claiming a valid purchase contract.”
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Threats, Surveillance, and Forced Legalization
Imran Al-Mohammad was accused of spying on Iran-backed groups after refusing to sell his home and shop in central Al-Mayadeen. “Eventually, a relative in the militias convinced me to sell the home for 40 million SYP, less than half its value, through his office and with an official contract. I have recordings and documents from that time. I sold it under pressure, not choice.” Al-Muhammad told +963 in its seventh edition.
Iran-backed factions began entering Deir ez-Zor’s western banks in late 2017, citing the fight against ISIS. Since then, many residents have lost their properties to what they describe as systematic and militarized land grabs.
Abdul-Rahman Al-Fattah, a date palm farmer in Al-Jalaa village, told +963 that he was approached by members of Iran’s Quds Force: “They said my farmland was needed for military purposes. Any resistance at the time meant death.”
He’s now calling for international rights organizations to intervene: “We need an independent investigation committee. Many victims are still afraid to speak out due to ongoing threats.”
A Devastating Chapter for Deir ez-Zor
Local activist Ahmad Al-Saleh described the previous years as disastrous:
“Iranian militias took control through fear and violence. They used various tactics, accusations of terrorism, detaining relatives, cutting off resources, to force people into selling at half the value or less.”
He noted that homes were often seized under claims of “temporary military use,” only to be permanently occupied. Now, many affected families are trying to reclaim their properties through the new courts and administrative bodies, but the absence of accurate official records makes the process extremely difficult.
