The Action Group | Syria
The Palestinian camps in Syria, most notably Yarmouk and Khan al-Shih, are witnessing an alarming increase in real estate fraud and forgery, amid a demographic and security vacuum left behind by years of war and destruction. This has prompted activists and lawyers to issue stern warnings to citizens, along with legal calls to tighten legal procedures to protect real estate ownership and prevent the exploitation of refugees.
In conjunction with these developments, Syrian judicial authorities issued a circular calling on courts to strictly verify the seriality of ownership of real estate in lawsuits related to confirming sales or transferring ownership. The circular includes precise technical measures, including physical inspections, questioning neighbors about property owners, and verifying signatures and fingerprints. The aim is to thwart fraudulent attempts taking place in large areas, especially those that have witnessed displacement and destruction, such as Yarmouk and Khan al-Shih.
In this context, legal advisor Ghiath Dabour previously warned of the increasing number of fraudulent operations targeting ordinary people, emphasizing the need to verify the owner’s identity, the validity of documents, and the type of ownership, whether registered in the real estate registry or based on a power of attorney or court ruling. He emphasized that haste or excessive trust in sellers opens the door to huge financial losses.
In Yarmouk Camp, local activists have issued warnings of fraud gangs operating in the area between Lubya Street and Jalal Kaoush Street, exploiting joint ownership and the absence of owners to sell real estate and property without justification. Financial losses have been estimated at millions of Syrian pounds, amid reports of the sale of shares exceeding the actual owner’s share, and the forgery of identities and real estate documents.
Khan al-Shih was not isolated from this phenomenon. Widespread fraud has been reported involving forged official documents and the unknowing sale of real estate to its rightful owners. This has even led to the publication of false advertisements online, amid accusations that individuals with security connections during the former Syrian regime were involved in these operations. They used fake witnesses and forged documents to convince buyers.
Amid this chaos, observers and human rights activists assert that protecting real estate in Palestinian camps is no longer a legal luxury, but a national and humanitarian necessity. This requires stricter legislation, close cooperation between the judiciary and relevant agencies, and increased public awareness of the dangers of forgery, especially in areas where residents are seeking to return and rebuild their homes after years of forced displacement.
Counselor Dabour concludes his warning by saying, “It’s the documents that count, not the sweet words. Anything beyond that could cost you years of litigation and possibly the complete loss of your rights.”