WE all cheered for the Syrian people after they attained salvation from the brutal regime that lasted for 54 years.

It is now time to speak frankly. The new Syria requires a lot of work to rebuild a nation that was shattered by the past era as well as carry out urbanization and development, which will require the collective cooperation of all, especially the Arab countries and their peoples. However, this mission cannot begin until the stolen rights are returned to their rightful owners.

Any attempt to build a new Syria on the same foundations of the old regime would make the country even weaker than it was under Assad, particularly with regard to the laws that allowed the confiscation of money and property. These laws enabled thieves, criminals, and con artists to rob both Syrian citizens and Arabs, including Gulf nationals.

Many properties were seized by the regime’s henchmen or those connected to it, often under flimsy pretexts. These individuals betrayed the trust placed in them, whether in companies, real estate, or other ventures. Some of these criminals even claimed close relationships with high-ranking regime officials. They went as far as to spread rumors suggesting they were managing investments on behalf of Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher, his sister Bushra al-Assad, and other members of the family. Through these false claims, they defrauded Kuwaitis, Saudis, Gulf citizens, and other Arabs.

The parties related to Bashar al-Assad issued decisions to seize people’s money in agreement with Bashar al-Assad, his brother, their close associates, and the pillars of the regime. It is inconceivable that all of this could have occurred without the approval of senior officials, such as ministers, presidents, or intelligence officers.

We reiterate that we possess many documents that confirm the validity of our claims, and even expose the methods of theft and robbery of not just cars and money, but also real estate, farms, palaces, and homes that belonged to Gulf citizens.

Confiscation became the primary method used by the regime to seize the properties owned by Gulf citizens, often due to personal disputes or in response to political positions taken by their governments that were not favored by Assad. The confiscated properties were then registered under the names of influential individuals or other front figures, and eventually sold to irrelevant individuals. This method made it increasingly difficult to return the properties to their rightful owners, who often found themselves unable to reclaim their rights. In doing so, they risked facing severe consequences, such as imprisonment in Tadmur Prison, Saydnaya, or the Palestine Branch detention center. They could also be falsely accused of spying for Israel, being enemies of the Baath Party, or insulting the president. Many of the well-known individuals involved in these practices are already subject to international sanctions, and some even hold multiple nationalities in addition to their Syrian one.

If those responsible are not held accountable, it will send a green light to many weak-minded individuals to exploit the situation and continue the exploitation of Gulf citizens, Arabs, and Syrians, under the guise of supporting the revolution or claiming proximity to the new leadership.

In such a scenario, the Gulf saying “Neither we recovered nor did the evil leave us” will ring true. There are many cases filed in Gulf countries against these fraudsters, who were sheltered by the regime, which crafted the laws to serve its own interests and those of its partners, including militant groups and criminal gangs used to silence the opposition.

Therefore, the current leadership must match their words with actions, and work immediately to restore the rights of the people.

Syria needs development after the devastation left by the fascist regime, and it is impossible to build on ruins that will quickly bring down any new building.

From here, we assert: If the new administration fails to recognize this, it will set a bad precedent in its relations with the Arabs, who not only understand the Syrian situation but also have a deep affection for Syria and its people, and are ready to invest in its future.

We reiterate that we hold the names of some of those who stole under the Assad regime and are ready to share them with the leaders of the new administration, should they wish to know. Once again, we urge you, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to apply the law (Sharia).