afrinpost– Exclusive
In a troubling development, the Syrian regime has detained a Kurdish citizen on Monday, July 10th, under the accusation of possessing a significant amount of money. The arrest is seen as part of a wider strategy to further restrict the residents of Afrin, who are already besieged in the Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo.
According to our correspondent, the arrest took place at a security checkpoint belonging to the Syrian regime in the western Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo. The pharmacist, identified as Hoger Mohammed Ali Habash, was apprehended while en route to regime-controlled areas in Aleppo to purchase medication. He was found in possession of one million Syrian pounds. Additionally, his vehicle was confiscated and transferred to the Syrian capital, Damascus.
For nearly two years, the Syrian regime has imposed restrictions on the movement of funds, allowing individuals to carry a maximum of 150,000 Syrian pounds. Anyone found with a larger sum faces arrest and prosecution by the Economic Court, in addition to tariffs imposed on essential goods.
It is important to note that this measure affects all areas under Syrian regime control. The value of the Syrian pound has hit an all-time low against the US dollar since 2011, surpassing the threshold of 10,000 Syrian pounds per one US dollar. The Central Bank has set the exchange rate for foreign transfers at 9,000 Syrian pounds per dollar.
Meanwhile, the average monthly wage for Syrian citizens in regime-held areas does not exceed 100,000 Syrian pounds. However, according to the Qasioun Center, the expenditure of a family of five exceeds 6.5 million Syrian pounds.
