Residents of Al-Zahriyat Neighborhood in Damascus Demand Protection After Eviction Threats

Residents of the Al-Zahriyat neighborhood in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Tuesday called for protection for themselves and their homes after armed men stormed the area over the past two days, threatening to evict them within 24 hours.

Residents who spoke to local media following a visit to the governorate building yesterday said they had presented water and electricity bills, along with official documents proving ownership of their homes. They urged the authorities not to evict them and to ensure their safety.

The majority of Al-Zahriyat’s residents are from the Alawite sect. The residents explained that the armed men who raided the neighborhood in recent days inquired about their sectarian affiliations and ordered them to evacuate.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, around 50 homes in the neighborhood are owned by residents with legal documents. The observatory reported that a security faction led by a man known as “Abu Anas,” with the assistance of local security official “Abu Hudhaifa,” had previously stormed the area on October 9, threatening residents with eviction and confiscation of property.

For his part, the local official in the neighborhood, known as “Sheikh Abu Al-Nour,” denied that these actions constituted forced displacement. He told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper: “The area is originally a military and informal zone under state ownership. Most of those living here do not possess property deeds or official contracts, relying only on electricity and water bills.” He added, “We are not unjustly expelling anyone, but rather restoring the situation to its legal status. The area will be reorganized later.”

This incident follows a similar campaign that took place in the Al-Sumariyah neighborhood of western Damascus last August, which targeted Alawite residents and involved raids, threats, arrests, the tearing up of property documents, and demands for evacuation.

As of the time of reporting, neither the Damascus Governorate nor security authorities had issued any official statement regarding the events in the Al-Zahriyat neighborhood.