Sham thieves: Tahrir al-Sham pillages homes and mosques in Idlib after funding cut off

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in northern Syria’s Idlib is
suffering from a deterioration in its economic conditions, and it has resorted
to imposing taxes and royalties on the people of the governorate by force.
Among the royalties that it imposed on the residents is a
zakat known as “oil zakat”, whereby 5% is taken by force from the people, regardless
of the amount of oil extracted. Those who refuse are threatened to be held
accountable by the security forces or referred to one of HTS’s outposts.
Power lines stolen
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that HTS
has robbed multiple homes of citizens in various villages in the Idlib
countryside.
The Observatory noted that HTS’s situation has deteriorated to
the point that it has stolen electricity wires from homes after stealing all
the wood, tools and devices in the homes.
Stealing antiquities
According to the Syrian Observatory and complaints from
residents via the network Orient over the past weeks, HTS has also stolen a
large number of antiquities from Idlib and Aleppo governorates.
The Observatory confirmed that Tell Nawaz, located near the
town of Kafr Nasih in the western countryside of Aleppo, has turned into an
excavation site with workers belonging to HTS, where they have bulldozed the
ground and prevented citizens from approaching the area.
According to the Observatory's report, HTS operatives
discovered treasures and statues in that area.
In addition, antiquities were found in Qminas, Jabal
al-Zawiya, the eastern countryside of Idlib, near Jarjanaz, al-Ghadfa, Tell
Mardikh, Qalb Loze, Tell Qarqur, and areas around Jisr al-Shughur and
Ishtabraq.
Robbing mosques
Even mosques have not escaped the thievery of HTS, as the
people of Idlib published a video showing a group of air conditioners that were
stolen by HTS from mosques. They also stole mosque carpets, loudspeakers, and water
coolers and heaters.