RBSS
Every time the terrorist group ISIS decides to get out of any location, they start to take over civilians houses, the civilians that had to flee ISIS areas because of the group’s violations. Raqqa, as the group’s last stronghold, is now facing the same destiny. Even houses of civilians who have fled the city to the countryside, which is also under the group’s control, are also taken over and given to the fighters coming from Iraq or Jarabulus.
Ali, from Raqqa and his house was taken over by ISIS, indicated to RBSS reporter:” After we had to be displaced to the eastern suburbs of Raqqa, ISIS fighters took over our house. When I visited the office of real estate they told me that I cannot take it back since fighters are living in it.”
It is noteworthy that real estate office (or Diwan as for ISIS name) is a new office and set up by the group to oversee selling, buying and renting houses and lands because the terrorist group gets money for that, this office is also responsible for collecting taxes and confiscating the abandoned houses.
In a separate context, the terrorist group imposed huge sums of money over the civilians who want to leave the city towards the regime controlled areas and Turkey but if they do not come back after a limited period the group take over their properties.
Tarek, who has tried to flee the city, indicated to RBSS reporter:” I have tried to visit Hama in order to check on my family who live there, when I went to take a travelling permission they asked me to put all my properties under their custody until I come back and informed me that they will confiscate all of them in case I did not come back, so I decided to cancel my visit”
Activists from Raqqa indicate that if ISIS left the city and it is taken over by the Kurdish forces, then civilians will face the same issue since the Kurdish forces will take over these houses in the pretext of that they are the houses of ISIS fighters.
