Berlin – A group of Syrian activists and rights advocates filed a complaint on Tuesday with the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) against Ziad Zahr al-Din, Syria’s former consul in Dubai.
The complaint, submitted to the BAMF branch in the city of Nuremberg, accuses Zahr al-Din of corruption, embezzlement, and theft.
According to the petitioners, Zahr al-Din is currently residing in Germany and has applied for asylum in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, following the arrival of his family members months earlier using diplomatic passports.
The activists said that the Syrian Interim Government had officially dismissed Zahr al-Din from his post, denying that he faced political persecution. They argued that he was instead fleeing legal accountability for alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as consul.
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The complaint also warned that accepting Zahr al-Din and his family could allow “potential associates of the former regime” to enter Germany, citing his family ties to Issam Zahr al-Din, a former senior officer under the ousted government.
Zahr al-Din announced his resignation on Sunday, saying in a recorded statement that he rejected the authority of the interim government and would no longer perform any duties under its administration.
He added that “the future of the Druze community in Suwayda will be determined by its own people.”
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded, clarifying that Zahr al-Din had already been reassigned to the ministry’s central office in Damascus under a decision issued on September 20, effectively ending his duties in Dubai.
The ministry said Zahr al-Din’s recent statements “do not represent the Syrian state or its official policies,” describing them as personal opinions inconsistent with diplomatic norms and consular ethics.
It added that the Syrian Consulate in Dubai continues to operate normally and remains under the direct supervision of the Foreign Ministry in Damascus.
