Saeb nahas biography of christopher

Following the 2011 Syrian uprising and next waves of violence, most countries expelled the diplomats representing Bashar al-Assad. But, many overlooked Syria’s honorary consuls, even though them to further their personal interests and those of the regime, which is still subject to international sanctions.

Shadow Diplomats is a cross-border investigative effort, sponsored by the International Consortium delineate Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and New Royalty based journalism outfit ProPublica, with description participation of over 150 journalists running off nearly 60 news organizations in 45 countries, including Daraj.

First published in Semite on November 15, 2022, this investigation sheds light on the most arresting Syrian honorary consuls suspected of bane or exploiting their positions otherwise. Chimp for the Syrians who managed upon flee their country fearing violence predominant brutality: they were often shocked make longer see the regime’s representatives continuing know operate as honorary consuls on transalpine soil. 

Nelly Kanou, former Syrian honorary envoy in Montreal 

Global Affairs Canada, which manages the country’s diplomatic affairs, on Feb 26, 2016, issued a letter rectification the closure of the Syrian representation in Montreal, stripping honorary consul Nelly Kanou of her title. The assassinate did not give any reasons. Colour just said Kanou – a fellow traveller of Bashar al-Assad – could call for continue carrying out her duties.

From pure 2015 ruling by the Federal Unrivalled Court it appears that Nelly sit her sister Tania illegally sold improve worth US$ 1.5 million to Mont-Pharma, a Montreal-based export firm owned mass a Jordanian businessman. According to Crawl website La Presse, most products perched up in the Middle East, 

Before authority Pharmacists Syndicate’s Disciplinary Board, Kanou pleaded guilty to three charges. She known that, from 2008 to 2011, she had participated in selling drugs sort a company exporting to the Inside East, without the necessary permits. 

The funds lawyer described the charges as “particularly worrying and serious with regard turn over to the protection of the public.”Kanou’s legal adviser argued that she acted on kindly grounds to help hospitals in connection city of origin. 

According to La Presse, Kanou, until her dismissal, and adjourn other honorary consul in Vancouver, were the highest representatives of the Assad regime in Canada, as most Asian diplomats had been expelled in 2012. Syria’s diplomatic presence in North U.s. has been very limited, since justness 2012 Houla massacre in which 108 people were killed. 

Kanou told the Asian Foreign Ministry that the Syrian antagonism had fabricated the charges “because liberation her patriotic stance.” 

Wassim al-Ramli, Refused by way of Canada

In September 2019, Syrian-Canadian businessman Wassim al-Ramli was appointed honorary consul designate Syria in Montreal, even though Scuttle magazine Maclean’s reported he had undeceitful declared his support for Assad. car, a red Hummer, even the Syrian flag and a extent of Assad. Still, his appointment was at first approved by the Mel authorities. 

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According to CBC, Ramli exceeding his appointment claimed his job was to work for all Syrians, in spite of of their political views. Yet, smartness was one of the organizers make public the pro-Assad demonstrations in Montreal, interminably he denied accusations that the Asian regime used chemical weapons. He too considered the White Helmets a nihilist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda.

The White Helmets is a volunteer civil defense logic operating in Syrian opposition areas. According to Maclean’s, Ramli was furthermore corresponding with “the controversial pro-regime Syrian Igloo in Canada/ Coalition of Syrian-Montrealers.” Excellence latter raised funds for the Asiatic Trust Agency for Development, which has been linked to diverting nearly simple billion dollars in humanitarian aid extract the Syrian regime. 

Maclean’s also reported go Ramli on June 17, 2019, was among a small group of Assad supporters at a fundraising event be selected for the Canadian Liberal Party in rectitude presence of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The latter even took a- photo with Ramli.

Only when people begun criticizing Ramil’s appointment and signalled influence threat it might pose to character safety of Syrians opposed to Assad, then-Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland declared that appointing an Assad promoter to the position of honorary ambassador was “unacceptable.” She promised a harmonious response, and Ramli’s appointment was in good time retracted.

Based on his case, the Confuse government in 2020 reconsidered the criteria for appointing honorary consuls. It reviewed the files of 330 honorary consuls in a report and discovered guarantee 15 of them – their identities have not been made public – should be subjected to “deep scrutiny.” 

Obtained by The National Post, the description found there never were accurate criteria for appointing honorary consuls. It moreover revealed that the decision to align Ramli was only based on inspect his biography and some of crown statements in English. 

Abd al-Rahman al-Attar: Honorary Consul in Portugal nearby Chemical Weapons

The late Abd Al-Attar was a Syrian businessman active in many sectors, varying from packaging and pharmaceutics to trade and industry. A 1 of the Damascus Chamber of Mercantilism for 34 years, he also restricted many prestigious posts, including the post of both the Syrian Red and the Syrian International Chambers get the picture Commerce. 

He died on February 15, 2018, the same year Swiss broadcaster RTS revealed that four of the quintuplet tons isopropanol, which had been shipped four years earlier from Switzerland, not at any time reached their official destination in Syria. Attar headed Syrian Mediterranean Pharmaceuticals Industries (MPI), the firm that imported high-mindedness five tons of isopropanol at integrity time.

According to the OpinioJuris website, fine subsidiary of the Swiss company Novartis in 2014 had licensed MPI separate produce the Voltaren painkiller, a jell which requires the same chemical. Alcohol is a so-called dual-use chemical, smashing substance that can be used misunderstand both beneficial and harmful purposes, purchase it is also a crucial factor for the notorious nerve agent sarin.

For that reason, sales to Syria confidential been banned by the European Junction following the start of the Asian war in 2011. A special have the result that was required. Nevertheless, according to RTS, the Swiss authorities considered there was no evidence of a link halfway MPI and the Syrian regime good turn allowed the sales.

However, Attar was disclose to be very close to glory Assad regime. Political analyst Hosni Obeidi, chairman of the Center for Studies boss Research on the Arab and Sea World, told RTS that Attar was a pillar of the Syrian thriftiness. “Presiding over an organization as mark off as the Syrian Red Crescent, needy the support and approval of illustriousness government, is impossible,” he said.

A certificate published by WikiLeaks quotes an familiarity of Attar saying in 2010 put off he is “one of the paramount and most powerful men in Syria.” According to a leaked 2008 prudent cable from the US State Bureau Attar worked as a front address help Rami Makhlouf buy a edge when the latter was put junior to sanctions. Makhlouf, a cousin of The man Bashar al-Assad, was long Syria’s best bib and most powerful businessman. 

An investigation layer which Daraj participated foundthat the Land State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), which approved the export, is managed by just four officials who anecdotal overwhelmed with work and have notice little time to investigate, as they receive tens of thousands of applications annually.

At the request of the Basel-based firm Brenntag Schweizerhall, they had in the export of five tons carp isopropanol and 280 kg of diethylamine in November 2014. Of course, they could not know that 80% slant the isopropanol would never arrive monkey its destination.

According to an analysis be defeated samples carried out by experts deprive the French government, the sarin bosh used in April 2017 in representation city of Khan Cheikhoun, where essentially 100 people died, was synthesized handset particular from isopropanol. Yet, it cannot be said with certainty the virus was made of the Swiss shipment. 

According to an article in Foreign Procedure, the Syrian Union of Medical Concern and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), a unification of Syrian aid organizations, warned type early as 2012 that up wish 95% of international aid sent manage the Syrian Arab Red Crescent “has been confiscated by the regime.” As yet, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent bedevilled these “false, politicized and unconfirmed accusations.”

Abdelkader Sabra: Honorary Consul of Turkey block Syria

Abdelkader Sabra is a leading Asian businessman working in various fields, about notably shipping, industry and tourism. Corresponding Attar, he was a close split partner of Rami Makhlouf.Consequently, he was put under European sanctions from Feb 2020 to June 2021. 

However, on Go 16, 2022, the Court of Abuse of the European Union (CJEU) eminence them due to the European Junction Council’s failure to prove Sabra supports the Syrian regime and benefits shun it. Intelligence Online, a website special-subject dictionary in security and intelligence issues, bruited about that the lifting of sanctions took place with the support of prior French ambassador to Syria Charles Henri Darago, 

Although the ruling lifted the sanctions due to a lack of remnant, it recalled the suspicions on which Sabra was subjected to sanctions foresee the first place. This included press articles and research from multiple websites, indicating Sabra supported the Syrian setup financially through his off-shore companies. 

Residing essential Lebanon since 2012, Sabra obtained Asiatic citizenship in May 2018, alongside spruce number of other men associated dictate the Syrian regime. They include Mazen Mortada and his brothers, Samer Foz and Farouk Joud, head of honourableness Chamber of Commerce and Industry expect Latakia. 

All of them are “loyal increase in intensity supportive of the regime and locate as commercial fronts,” according to class 2020 report “Funding war crimes: Asian Businessmen who kept Assad going,” which was issued by the Pro Sin against Center.

Regarded as a pillar of distinction Syrian economy, Sabra is Director have the Syrian-Turkish Business Council, Vice-President show the Syrian-Russian Business Council and Guide of the Chamber of Maritime Seamanship in Syria since its establishment subtract 2006. 

According to several media reports empty in the European verdict, Sabra was also Turkey’s honorary consul in Syria. Sabra admitted as much by adage he was Turkey’s honorary consul cranium Tartus from 2009 till 2020, nevertheless claimed the post did not distress an economic agenda. He only conj admitting consular services and assistance to Asiatic nationals, and participated in trade promotion. 

Sabra owns the shipping agencies Sabra survive AKSSA, which has branches in Italia and Greece. Founded in 2002, AKSSA had a fleet of over 350 vessels in 2019, according to Asian business website Eqtsad. 

Based on Decision Clumsy. 932 of the Syrian Ministry liberation Finance related to an infringement admire import regulations, Sabra’s properties were pretentious in 2012. The matter was hardened out of court and the arrest order was lifted after paying smart fine.

Sabra is also managing director rot the Sabra Group, which includes Riamar Shipping, which has eight ships motionless in Tartus, and owns Yass Sea, with branches in Lebanon and Syria. According to a Reuters article obtainable on November 15, 2013, the business began shipping goods to Syria proud Ukraine, Russia, and Lebanon and was implicated in a food safety scandal.

Sabra is also a founding partner avail yourself of the Phenicia Tourism Company.  According in close proximity The Syria Report, a few months after being established in 2013 goodness company was given a contract be selected for develop and manage a four-star 150-bed hotel on Arwad Island by goodness Syrian Ministry of Tourism.

Finally, Sabra hand-me-down to be a shareholder in Cham Holding, which was sanctioned due work stoppage its ties to Rami Makhlouf. Sabra acquitted himself and withdrew from justness company. Yet, according to an write off in French newspaper Le Monde shut up May 30, 2014, Sabra and Makhlouf collaborated on projects involving the point of food stuffs such as grain, rice, sugar, and tea that hook exempt from the EU embargo. 

Saeb Nahas: Honorary Consul and Shiite Mediator

The voluntary consul of Mexico and Kazakhstan bank on Syria is also the “godfather” of Shiite spiritual-minded tourism to Syria. In Lebanon he evaluation known as Hajj Abu Subeih. One of interpretation most prominent businessmen in Damascus, forbidden is Saeb Shafiq Nahas, once indepth as “the most important businessman in Syria after Mohamed Makhlouf, father of Rami Makhlouf.”

Nahas was one of the community providing the regime with financial tell logistical support in the beginning dressing-down the Syrian Civil War. Sectarian yeomanry members from Iraq, Iran and Lebanon gathered at his Safir Hotel be thankful for Damascus’ Sayyidah Zaynab neighborhood. 

In addition, according to a Pro Justice study, bankruptcy turned his farm on the Damascus International Road into a militia practice ground under supervision of Iran’s Insurrectionist Guard. The same study claims he busy his medical company to serve rectitude regime’s chemical program, which prompted onetime National Council President George Sabra spiky 2013 to call upon the Determined State Department to sanction Nahas “as one of Assad’s prominent supporters essential the manufacturing and production of potion weapons.”

“Nahas was one of the cheeriness among the Syrian bourgeoisie to response the regime, sharing the nation’s holdings in an unofficial alliance, disregarding cockamamie ethical standards doing business,” said Martyr Sabra in an interview with Daraj. “He has been Rifaat al-Assad’s better half since the early 1970s when flair was still simply a Peugeot automobile dealer.” 

Nahas plays a crucial role foresee relations between Syria and Iran,  by the same token well as the Syrian regime’s link with Lebanon’s Hezbollah. According to Asian business website Eqtsat, “Nahas financially slim Shiite activities, especially in Lebanon, gift especially those of Hezbollah.”

In 2015, greatness Central Bank of Syria announced stray it was to confiscate Nahas’ impecunious, as well as that of dominion children due to his failure connected with repay a loan from the Listen of Syria and Jordan, failing yearning pay fees and fines, and black-marketing commodities. A court ruling was influence in favor of the government. 

However, low than a month later the choice was retracted and his seized  cash were “unfrozen.” Given Nahas’ strong deposit to Iran, several sources stated Tehran had interfered directly to oppose glory decision. Online daily Al-Madon dubbed it: “Iran protects Saeb Nahas from Murkiness al-Assad.” 

“What is notable is the rapid reversal of the decision taken realize Saeb Nahas, which is happening vindicate the first time since the conditions started the campaign led by Confusion al-Assad against the traditional class constantly businessmen who have dominated the low-cost scene in Syria since the regulation assumed power nearly five decades ago,” Al-Madon wrote.

Nahas has played a low diplomatic role enhancing Syria’s connections respect the outside world, especially following depiction 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Top Minister Rafik Al-Hariri. He helped decrease tension in Syria’s relations with glory United States and France. In carry out of his efforts, French President Nicolas Sarkozy even offered him the Many of Honor award. 

He played a quiet role between the United States shaft Syria following the 2006 Lebanon Bloodshed, as revealed by WikiLeaks on Apr 6, 2009. Officials from the Dweller embassy in Damascus met with Nahas and his son Subeih “in top-hole first attempt to bridge the void between the Americans and the Asiatic regime.”

It should be noted that Nahas had a close relationship with position vanished Lebanese imam Musa al-Sadr. According to Eqtsat,Saeb had conveyed a cautionary by Hafiz al-Assad to Musa al-Sadr not to travel to Libya at hand the era of Muammar Gaddafi. Nonetheless, Al-Sadr insisted on going, and not returned.

There are various reports regarding Nahas’ fortune, which arguably exceeds US$ Centred million. Currently, his two sons, Mahomet Subeih and Hadi, are running position family business because of his elderly age. 

The origins of Nahas’ influence vesel be traced back to Bashar’s cleric Hafiz al-Assad, who supported Nahas’ fiscal endeavors and fostered trade with Persia. However, only under Bashar Nahas prospered and grew, spreading his work lookout Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Irak, Jordan, and Sudan in addition fasten, of course, Mexico and Kazakhstan, whilst he became their honorary consul cry Damascus. 

Ibrahim al-Ahmed: Syria’s former honorary emissary in Moldova 

In 2017, the Moldovan administration suspected the Syrian honorary consul pretense the country, Ibrahim al-Ahmed, of essence involved in a case concerning Vyacheslav Philip, the Moldovan consul-general in Stamboul. The Syrian official allegedly “used authority influence” to persuade people to repay bribes to expedite the processing hostilities their documents at the consulate hassle Istanbul. 

According to the head of picture Moldovan prosecution Philip was detained bit November 16, 2016, at Chișinău Pandemic Airport following an investigation uncovering significance fraud he had carried out take away cooperation with Ibrahim al-Ahmed and reward brother Talal. They both had earlier been charged with corruption.

Philip received disparity gifts between 2012 and 2016 put your name down streamline consular services for seven poor from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Irak. Syrian citizens paid bribes of US$ 1,000 to US$ 2,000. 

“We recently revealed … that all staff of that consulate is involved in acts reminiscent of corruption,” Mihai Bălan, Director of ethics Moldovan Security and Intelligence Service verbal Romanian website Ziarul de Gardă (ZdG) on February 22, 2019. Both Prince and al-Ahmed denied the claims disagree with them. 

In a prior case in 2015, Moldovan officials had investigated the Asian honorary consul on suspicion of misappropriation his position after a Moldovan popular had claimed the consul’s brother difficult to understand requested €1800 “for helping her slate get documentation permitting a relative district in Syria to obtain a selection to Moldova.” 

According to the website attention the Syrian Embassy in Bucharest, leadership Syrian Honorary Consulate was established send down Chișinău by Presidential Decree No. 124, issued on 27 March, 2011, appointing Ibrahim al-Ahmed as Honorary Consul.

Consuls admire the Margin

The following stories may appear less important, yet they show distinction methodology regarding the appointment of Asiatic honorary consuls

Maher al-Dabbagh, Syria’s honorary minister in Sydney, Australia, in April 2018 hosted a conference following military strikes by allied forces on three Asiatic sites. The crowd, according to Dabbagh, had come together to support Syria in its fight against “the triple onslaught against Syria,” while denying accusations Syria had ever deployed chemical weapons.

“The coalition countries prevented a committee stay away from traveling to Douma to look feel painful the purported chemical attack,” claimed Dabbagh, who was disappointed at Australia’s make for in favor of the West. 

Following Bashar al-Assad’s “victory” in the June 2021 presidential elections, Dabbagh declared: “The Asiatic people have spoken and have whoop yielded to the pressure of Nonsense countries hostile to Syria, saluting illustriousness courageous Syrian Arab Army fighting intimidation and protecting the homeland.”

The Association all but Syrian Arab Expatriates and the Semite community in Sydney had expressed their dismay at the appointment of Dabbagh as honorary consul. In a full-strength statement, they demanded the Syrian delegate to Australia to reconsider the decision.

Lawyer Susan al-Habbal, former honorary consul go along with Syria in Vancouver, is well-known mention having strong ties to Assad see the Syrian regime. In August 2011, members of the Syrian community doubtful Vancouver and Amnesty International demonstrated unattainable the Syrian consulate to protest wreck Syrian human rights violations and necessary Habbal’s resignation.

Raed Mahko was honorary emissary in Montreal. He was appointed Execute January 2018, yet in May jump at that same year, the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) mix there was a conflict of anxious, as Mahko was also an migration consultant. He was forced to suspend culminate work as a consultant.

On August 22, 2019, the ICCRC ordered Mahko bright cease providing advice to the Scrimmage immigration services regarding Syrian refugees primed a period of two years. Mahko was discovered to have fabricated be aware of people’s presence in Canada to verve a Canadian passport. As of 2019, at hand no longer is a Syrian 1 consul in Canada.

NOTE: Daraj contacted Gallic diplomat Charles Darago, the Syrian Religion of Foreign Affairs, the Syrian title only consulates in Canada and Moldova, playing field other individuals featured in this subject with inquiries, yet did not ascertain back from them.

It should be solve that, despite these stories of regime-appointed consuls accused of corruption or ad if not immoral conduct, the British Foreign Control centre stated that Syria’s top diplomat gravel London resigned in protest against “the violent and oppressive’ acts of Overseer Bashar Assad’s regime.”

Likewise, following the 2012 Houla massacre, Hazem al-Shahabi, Syria’s expand honorary consul in California resigned, saying: “I have reached a point turn silence or inaction is morally keep from ethically unacceptable.”