Syrian private airport plans spark outcry over mass graves, land rights
Damscus plans to turn a former military airport into a hub for private jets sparks backlash among residents who say the project could desturb suspected mass graves.
Syrian authorities plan to convert the former Mezzeh military airport in Damascus into a private jet hub, sparking concerns among rights groups and residents. The Syrian civil aviation authority announced last week it would reclassify the airport for limited civilian use, focusing on private and executive aviation to support Damascus International Airport.
Rubble removal and infrastructure upgrades have already commenced. The project exemplifies how Syria's new leadership is attempting to balance investment attraction and redevelopment of state assets with unresolved legacies from Assad's rule, namely the fate of thousands of missing Syrians and disputed property rights stemming from decades of expropriation.
During Bashar al-Assad's regime, Mezzeh served as a key base for the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate, as well as detention facilities where opponents faced torture, execution, and enforced disappearances. Executions, conducted under extreme secrecy, reportedly took place at a hangar and firing range adjacent to the runway.
Human rights organization, Syria Justice and Accountability Centre, uncovered two suspected mass grave sites within the airport, linked to over 1,150 detainees who perished there. SJAC warned Syria's National Commission for Missing Persons and the Defense Ministry not to proceed with construction until these sites were investigated, as excavation and development could destroy critical evidence of the victims.
Despite the concerns, the civil aviation authority, the National Commission, and the Defense Ministry have not provided any official response to Reuters regarding the potential discovery of mass graves or land disputes. The land on which the airport sits was expropriated from private citizens by the Assad regime in 1956, without compensation, and remains disputed.
Protesters in Moadamiya city, where Mezzeh is located, demonstrated after the redevelopment plans were announced, demanding a seat at the table to discuss their share in the development of the airport.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
