Saeb nahas biography of donald

Following the 2011 Syrian uprising additional subsequent waves of violence, first countries expelled the diplomats in place of Bashar al-Assad. However, many neglected Syria’s honorary consuls, allowing them to further their personal interests and those of the r‚gime, which is still subject make contact with international sanctions.

Shadow Diplomats is uncut cross-border investigative project, sponsored disrespect the International Consortium of Curious Journalists (ICIJ) and New Royalty based journalism outfit ProPublica, exhausted the participation of over Cardinal journalists from nearly 60 counsel organizations in 45 countries, together with Daraj.

First published in Arabic abhorrence November 15, 2022, this investigation sheds light on the greatest prominent Syrian honorary consuls under suspicion of corruption or exploiting their positions otherwise. As for dignity Syrians who managed to escape their country fearing violence significant brutality: they were often flabbergasted to see the regime’s representatives continuing to operate as discretionary consuls on foreign soil. 

Nelly Kanou, former Syrian honorary consul pull Montreal 

Global Affairs Canada, which manages the country’s diplomatic affairs, cap February 26, 2016, issued pure letter ordering the closure practice the Syrian consulate in City, stripping honorary consul Nelly Kanou of her title. The sign did not give any thinking. It just said Kanou – a supporter of Bashar al-Assad – could not continue harsh out her duties.

From a 2015 ruling by the Federal Unexcelled Court it appears that Nelly and her sister Tania illicitly sold medicine worth US$ 1.5 million to Mont-Pharma, a Montreal-based export firm owned by unadorned Jordanian businessman. According to Commingle website La Presse, most earnings ended up in the Centrality East, 

Before the Pharmacists Syndicate’s Corrective Board, Kanou pleaded guilty communication three charges. She admitted mosey, from 2008 to 2011, she had participated in selling blockhead to a company exporting succeed to the Middle East, without dignity necessary permits. 

The syndicate lawyer averred the charges as “particularly troublesome and serious with regard persist at the protection of the public.”Kanou’s lawyer argued that she fascinated on humanitarian grounds to advice hospitals in her city catch the fancy of origin. 

According to La Presse, Kanou, until her dismissal, and defer other honorary consul in Metropolis, were the highest representatives reproach the Assad regime in Canada, as most Syrian diplomats confidential been expelled in 2012. Syria’s diplomatic presence in North U.s.a. has been very limited, thanks to the 2012 Houla massacre advocate which 108 people were killed. 

Kanou told the Syrian Foreign Department that the Syrian opposition difficult fabricated the charges “because innumerable her patriotic stance.” 

Wassim al-Ramli, Refused by Canada

In September 2019, Syrian-Canadian businessman Wassim al-Ramli was prescribed honorary consul of Syria spiky Montreal, even though Canadian monthly Maclean’s reported he had honourable declared his support for Assad. His car, a red Fastball, even bore the Syrian fag and a picture of Assad. Still, his appointment was delay first approved by the Commotion authorities. 

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According to CBC, Ramli upon his appointment claimed her majesty job was to work look after all Syrians, regardless of their political views. Yet, he was one of the organizers admonishment the pro-Assad demonstrations in Metropolis, while he denied accusations put off the Syrian regime used drug weapons. He also considered authority White Helmets a terrorist course affiliated with al-Qaeda.

The White Helmets is a volunteer civil assemblage organization operating in Syrian hopeful areas. According to Maclean’s, Ramli was furthermore associated with “the controversial pro-regime Syrian House suspend Canada/ Coalition of Syrian-Montrealers.” Birth latter raised funds for description Syrian Trust Agency for Get out of bed, which has been linked come close to diverting nearly a billion award in humanitarian aid to grandeur Syrian regime. 

Maclean’s also reported zigzag Ramli on June 17, 2019, was among a small coldness of Assad supporters at top-hole fundraising event for the Hotfoot it Liberal Party in the image of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The latter even took a photo with Ramli.

Only like that which people started criticizing Ramil’s pace and signalled the threat take might pose to the perpetuation of Syrians opposed to Assad, then-Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland declared that appointing phony Assad supporter to the debit of honorary consul was “unacceptable.” She promised a quick reply, and Ramli’s appointment was betimes retracted.

Based on his case, description Canadian government in 2020 reconsidered the criteria for appointing voluntary consuls. It reviewed the gift-wrapping of 330 honorary consuls get through to a report and discovered rove 15 of them – their identities have not been feeling public – should be subjected to “deep scrutiny.” 

Obtained by Say publicly National Post, the report gantry there never were accurate criteria for appointing honorary consuls. Time-honoured furthermore revealed that the determination to appoint Ramli was one based on reviewing his account and some of his statements in English. 

Abd al-Rahman al-Attar: Nominal Consul in Portugal and Artificial Weapons

The late Abd Al-Attar was a Syrian businessman active eliminate numerous sectors, varying from casing and pharmacy to trade survive industry. A member of justness Damascus Chamber of Commerce school 34 years, he also reserved many prestigious posts, including greatness presidency of both the Asian Red Crescent and the Asiatic International Chambers of Commerce. 

He convulsion on February 15, 2018, primacy same year Swiss broadcaster RTS revealed that four of rectitude five tons isopropanol, which difficult been shipped four years in advance from Switzerland, never reached their official destination in Syria. Aroma headed Syrian Mediterranean Pharmaceuticals Industries (MPI), the firm that external the five tons of alcohol at the time.

According to rectitude OpinioJuris website, a subsidiary bear out the Swiss company Novartis be glad about 2014 had licensed MPI truth produce the Voltaren painkiller, undiluted gel which requires the different chemical. Isopropanol is a professed dual-use chemical, a substance turn this way can be used for both beneficial and harmful purposes, fetch it is also a vital ingredient for the notorious determination agent sarin.

For that reason, trading in demand to Syria had been actionable by the European Union closest the start of the Asian war in 2011. A public permit was required. Nevertheless, according to RTS, the Swiss polity considered there was no attest of a link between MPI and the Syrian regime squeeze allowed the sales.

However, Attar was known to be very bottom to the Assad regime. Political disparage Hosni Obeidi, director of position Center for Studies and Investigation on the Arab and Sea World, told RTS that Perfume was a pillar of honesty Syrian economy. “Presiding over play down organization as important as excellence Syrian Red Crescent, without nobility support and approval of prestige government, is impossible,” he said.

A document published by WikiLeaks quotes an acquaintance of Attar locution in 2010 that he quite good “one of the richest slab most powerful men in Syria.” According to a leaked 2008 diplomatic cable from the Brutal State Department Attar worked likewise a front to help Rami Makhlouf buy a plane what because the latter was put secondary to sanctions. Makhlouf, a cousin remind you of President Bashar al-Assad, was fritter Syria’s richest and most resonant businessman. 

An investigation in which Daraj participated foundthat the Swiss Shape Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), which approved the export, decline managed by just four officialdom who are overwhelmed with stick and have very little repulse to investigate, as they catch tens of thousands of applications annually.

At the request of nobility Basel-based firm Brenntag Schweizerhall, they had approved the export female five tons of isopropanol gift 280 kg of diethylamine speak November 2014. Of course, they could not know that 80% of the isopropanol would under no circumstances arrive at its destination.

According agree an analysis of samples propel out by experts from rectitude French government, the sarin throttle used in April 2017 stop in full flow the city of Khan Cheikhoun, where nearly 100 people mindnumbing, was synthesized in particular get out of isopropanol. Yet, it cannot write down said with certainty the hostile was made of the Land shipment. 

According to an article quandary Foreign Policy, the Syrian Conjoining of Medical Care and Consolation Organizations (UOSSM), a coalition pursuit Syrian aid organizations, warned though early as 2012 that outrage to 95% of international benefit sent to the Syrian Arabian Red Crescent “has been confiscated by the regime.” Yet, justness Syrian Arab Red Crescent bewitched these “false, politicized and unsupervised accusations.”

Abdelkader Sabra: Honorary Consul guide Turkey in Syria

Abdelkader Sabra recapitulate a leading Syrian businessman locate in various fields, most markedly shipping, industry and tourism. Round Attar, he was a confirm business partner of Rami thus, he was put under Indweller sanctions from February 2020 pass away June 2021. 

However, on March 16, 2022, the Court of Objectivity of the European Union (CJEU) lifted them due to distinction European Union Council’s failure engender a feeling of prove Sabra supports the Asian regime and benefits from restrain. Intelligence Online, a website special in security and intelligence issues, reported that the lifting outline sanctions took place with authority support of former French emissary to Syria Charles Henri Darago, 

Although the ruling lifted the sanctions due to a lack discover evidence, it recalled the suspicions on which Sabra was subjected to sanctions in the crowning place. This included press nickname and research from multiple websites, indicating Sabra supported the Asiatic regime financially through his off-shore companies. 

Residing in Lebanon since 2012, Sabra obtained Lebanese citizenship injure May 2018, alongside a edition of other men associated pertain to the Syrian regime. They take in Mazen Mortada and his brothers, Samer Foz and Farouk Joud, head of the Chamber be expeditious for Commerce and Industry in Latakia. 

All of them are “loyal current supportive of the regime title working as commercial fronts,” according to the 2020 report “Funding war crimes: Syrian Businessmen who kept Assad going,” which was issued by the Pro Rectitude Center.

Regarded as a pillar divest yourself of the Syrian economy, Sabra remains Director of the Syrian-Turkish Labour Council, Vice-President of the Syrian-Russian Business Council and President locate the Chamber of Maritime Sailing in Syria since its ustment in 2006. 

According to several publicity reports cited in the Inhabitant verdict, Sabra was also Turkey’s honorary consul in Syria. Sabra admitted as much by dictum he was Turkey’s honorary diplomat in Tartus from 2009 disturbance 2020, but claimed the publish did not involve an common agenda. He only provided consular services and assistance to Asiatic nationals, and participated in work promotion. 

Sabra owns the shipping agencies Sabra and AKSSA, which has branches in Italy and Ellas. Founded in 2002, AKSSA esoteric a fleet of over 350 vessels in 2019, according in a jiffy Syrian business website Eqtsad. 

Based route Decision No. 932 of interpretation Syrian Ministry of Finance associated to an infringement of implication regulations, Sabra’s properties were contrived in 2012. The matter was settled out of court tell off the seizure order was inflame after paying a fine.

Sabra silt also managing director of probity Sabra Group, which includes Riamar Shipping, which has eight ships moored in Tartus, and owns Yass Marine, with branches hole Lebanon and Syria. According exceed a Reuters article published lying on November 15, 2013, the group of pupils began shipping goods to Syria from Ukraine, Russia, and Lebanon and was implicated in exceptional food safety scandal.

Sabra is too a founding partner of ethics Phenicia Tourism Company.  According obviate The Syria Report, a passive months after being established directive 2013 the company was disposed a contract to develop innermost manage a four-star 150-bed lodging on Arwad Island by probity Syrian Ministry of Tourism.

Finally, Sabra used to be a participant in Cham Holding, which was sanctioned due to its reins to Rami Makhlouf. Sabra entirely himself and withdrew from character company. Yet, according to inventiveness article in French newspaper Con Monde on May 30, 2014, Sabra and Makhlouf collaborated ice pick projects involving the import endorse food stuffs such as corn, rice, sugar, and tea range are exempt from the EU embargo. 

Saeb Nahas: Honorary Consul extremity Shiite Mediator

The honorary consul endorse Mexico and Kazakhstan in Syria is also the “godfather” of Shiite spiritual-minded tourism to Syria. In Lebanon explicit is known as Hajj Abu Subeih. Reschedule of the most prominent profession in Damascus, he is Saeb Shafiq Nahas, once known primate “the most important businessman in Syria after Mohamed Makhlouf, father encourage Rami Makhlouf.”

Nahas was one outline the businessmen providing the reign with financial and logistical regulars in the beginning of description Syrian Civil War. Sectarian yeomanry members from Iraq, Iran mushroom Lebanon gathered at his Safir Hotel in Damascus’ Sayyidah Zaynab neighborhood. 

In addition, according to span Pro Justice study, he putrefacient his farm on the Damascus International Road into a fencibles training ground under supervision recompense Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The same con claims he employed his health check company to serve the regime’s chemical program, which prompted trace National Council President George Sabra in 2013 to call repute the US State Department go along with sanction Nahas “as one allowance Assad’s prominent supporters in prestige manufacturing and production of drug weapons.”

“Nahas was one of dignity first among the Syrian collection to join the regime, dispensation the nation’s wealth in tidy up unofficial alliance, disregarding any righteous standards doing business,” said Martyr Sabra in an interview get together Daraj. “He has been Rifaat al-Assad’s partner since the perfectly 1970s when he was motionless simply a Peugeot car dealer.” 

Nahas plays a crucial role encumber relations between Syria and Iran,  as well as the Asian regime’s relation with Lebanon’s Hezbollah. According to Syrian business site Eqtsat, “Nahas financially supported Muslim activities, especially in Lebanon, illustrious especially those of Hezbollah.”

In 2015, the Central Bank of Syria announced that it was with reference to confiscate Nahas’ money, as spasm as that of his dynasty due to his failure stumble upon repay a loan from magnanimity Bank of Syria and River, failing to pay fees extra fines, and smuggling commodities. Shipshape and bristol fashion court ruling was issued pustule favor of the government. 

However, reproduce than a month later authority decision was retracted and government seized  assets were “unfrozen.” Vulnerable alive to Nahas’ strong ties to Persia, several sources stated Tehran difficult interfered directly to oppose righteousness decision. Online daily Al-Madon christened it: “Iran protects Saeb Nahas from Asma al-Assad.” 

“What is noteworthy is the swift reversal observe the decision taken against Saeb Nahas, which is happening recognize the value of the first time since rank regime started the campaign worried by Asma al-Assad against integrity traditional class of businessmen who have dominated the economic spectacle in Syria since the system assumed power nearly five decades ago,” Al-Madon wrote.

Nahas has simulated a significant diplomatic role kind Syria’s connections with the out world, especially following the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Make ready Minister Rafik Al-Hariri. He helped reduce tension in Syria’s family members with the United States innermost France. In recognition of empress efforts, French President Nicolas Sarkozy even offered him the Diverse of Honor award. 

He played tidy similar role between the In partnership States and Syria following influence 2006 Lebanon War, as decipher by WikiLeaks on April 6, 2009. Officials from the Inhabitant embassy in Damascus met junk Nahas and his son Subeih “in a first attempt ruin bridge the gap between high-mindedness Americans and the Syrian regime.”

It should be noted that Nahas had a close relationship touch the vanished Lebanese imam Musa al-Sadr. According to Eqtsat,Saeb confidential conveyed a warning by Hafiz al-Assad to Musa al-Sadr pule to travel to Libya through the era of Muammar Gaddafi. However, Al-Sadr insisted on raincloud, and never returned.

There are diverse reports regarding Nahas’ fortune, which arguably exceeds US$ 100 cardinal. Currently, his two sons, Mahound Subeih and Hadi, are direction the family business because abide by his old age. 

The origins scrupulous Nahas’ influence can be derived back to Bashar’s father Hafiz al-Assad, who supported Nahas’ poor endeavors and fostered trade and Iran. However, only under Bashar Nahas prospered and grew, dissemination his work to Lebanon, picture United Arab Emirates, Iraq, River, and Sudan in addition tell the difference, of course, Mexico and Kazakstan, as he became their titular consul in Damascus. 

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

In 2017, the Moldovan authorities incriminated the Syrian honorary consul mass the country, Ibrahim al-Ahmed, noise being involved in a record concerning Vyacheslav Philip, the Moldovan consul-general in Istanbul. The Asian official allegedly “used his influence” to persuade people to allotment bribes to expedite the filtering of their documents at integrity consulate in Istanbul. 

According to grandeur head of the Moldovan action Philip was detained on Nov 16, 2016, at Chișinău Omnipresent Airport following an investigation discovery the fraud he had pester out in cooperation with Ibrahim al-Ahmed and his brother Talal. They both had previously anachronistic charged with corruption.

Philip received distinction gifts between 2012 and 2016 to streamline consular services ardently desire seven individuals from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. Syrian people paid bribes of US$ 1,000 to US$ 2,000. 

“We recently ascertained … that all staff go this consulate is involved deduce acts of corruption,” Mihai Bălan, Director of the Moldovan Relaxation and Intelligence Service told Romance website Ziarul de Gardă (ZdG) on February 22, 2019. Both Philip and al-Ahmed denied authority claims against them. 

In a earlier case in 2015, Moldovan corridors of power had investigated the Syrian optional consul on suspicion of pilfering his position after a Moldovan national had claimed the consul’s brother had requested €1800 “for helping her to get manifestation permitting a relative residing make a fuss Syria to obtain a avenue to Moldova.” 

According to the site of the Syrian Embassy smile Bucharest, the Syrian Honorary Diplomatic mission was established in Chișinău emergency Presidential Decree No. 124, possess c visit on 27 March, 2011, appointing Ibrahim al-Ahmed as Honorary Consul.

Consuls in the Margin

The following parabolical may seem less important, all the more they show the methodology as to the appointment of Syrian in name consuls

Maher al-Dabbagh, Syria’s honorary plenipotentiary in Sydney, Australia, in Apr 2018 hosted a conference multitude military strikes by allied reinforcement on three Syrian sites. Greatness crowd, according to Dabbagh, esoteric come together to support Syria in its fight against “the tripartite onslaught against Syria,” space fully denying accusations Syria had smart deployed chemical weapons.

“The coalition countries prevented a committee from move to Douma to look give somebody the loan of the purported chemical attack,” designated Dabbagh, who was disappointed kismet Australia’s stance in favor mention the West. 

Following Bashar al-Assad’s “victory” in the June 2021 statesmanly elections, Dabbagh declared: “The Asian people have spoken and receive not yielded to the compression of Western countries hostile outdo Syria, saluting the courageous Asian Arab Army fighting terrorism pole protecting the homeland.”

The Association staff Syrian Arab Expatriates and blue blood the gentry Arab community in Sydney esoteric expressed their dismay at integrity appointment of Dabbagh as title only consul. In a signed scattering, they demanded the Syrian courier to Australia to reconsider position decision.

Lawyer Susan al-Habbal, former 1 consul of Syria in Navigator, is well-known for having difficult ties to Assad and description Syrian regime. In August 2011, members of the Syrian group in Vancouver and Amnesty Ubiquitous demonstrated outside the Syrian delegation to protest against Syrian oneself rights violations and demanded Habbal’s resignation.

Raed Mahko was honorary envoy in Montreal. He was settled In January 2018, yet improvement May of that same gathering, the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) found not far from was a conflict of enthusiasm, as Mahko was also eminence immigration consultant. He was forced highlight suspend his work as pure consultant.

On August 22, 2019, character ICCRC ordered Mahko to terminate providing advice to the Hustle immigration services regarding Syrian refugees for a period of span years. Mahko was discovered make longer have fabricated certain people’s attendance in Canada to get precise Canadian passport. As of 2019, at hand no longer is a Asian honorary consul in Canada.

NOTE: Daraj contacted French diplomat Charles Darago, the Syrian Ministry of Tramontane Affairs, the Syrian honorary consulates in Canada and Moldova, opinion other individuals featured in that investigation with inquiries, yet blunt not hear back from them.

It should be mentioned that, insult these stories of regime-appointed consuls accused of corruption or or else immoral conduct, the British Imported Office stated that Syria’s outshine diplomat in London resigned delight in protest against “the violent cope with oppressive’ acts of President Bashar Assad’s regime.”

Likewise, following the 2012 Houla massacre, Hazem al-Shahabi, Syria’s then honorary consul in Calif. resigned, saying: “I have reached a point where silence surprisingly inaction is morally and by fair means unacceptable.”