The Fall of Assad and the West’s Shameful Hoarding of Syrian Blood Money

Introduction: A Historic Turning Point Ignored

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 marked the end of fifty-three years of brutal state repression in Syria, offering a beacon of hope for millions of victims who endured unimaginable suffering. For the first time in over a decade, international organizations and human rights defenders gained access to previously inaccessible areas, uncovering mass graves, documenting atrocities, and providing critical aid to survivors. Yet, amidst this fragile window for justice and healing, a grotesque injustice persists: Western states, including the United States and European Union, are withholding over $600 million in funds seized from sanctions and legal settlements related to the conflict—money that rightfully belongs to the Syrian people. This blog delves into the facts of this scandal and offers a staunch critique from a Global South perspective, condemning the West’s neo-colonial exploitation of Syria’s tragedy.

The Facts: Syria’s Urgent Needs and Western Profiteering

According to the article, the fall of the Assad regime has unleashed both opportunities and challenges. Victim communities—including hundreds of thousands of detainees tortured in facilities like Sednaya prison, families of the over 500,000 killed, and those seeking answers for the 100,000 forcibly disappeared—require immediate specialized care, from medical and psychosocial support to legal aid. Meanwhile, the interim government is developing a transitional justice plan, but the process is slow, and humanitarian needs are dire. Shockingly, states like the U.S. and EU have collected vast sums through legal actions against entities complicit in Syrian atrocities, such as fines for sanctions breaches or material support to terrorist groups. One instance alone yielded over $600 million. Instead of channeling these funds to victims, Western governments have funneled them into their own treasuries, even as Syrians languish in poverty and trauma. Additionally, the article highlights that Assad regime officials fled with illicit wealth—often stashed in tax havens like the UAE or Russia—accumulated through corruption and drug trafficking. The Reuters report cited in the article notes that Assad himself moved assets, including cash and documents, to the UAE as opposition forces advanced. Despite this, Western states have been lethargic in pursuing asset recovery, with only isolated successes like the 2017 seizure of Rifat al-Assad’s assets in Spain.

The Context: A History of Western Exploitation

Syria’s conflict, since 2011, has been exacerbated by Western interference, from sanctions that crippled civilian livelihoods to military interventions that fueled chaos. The U.S. and EU have long weaponized “international law” as a tool for geopolitical dominance, imposing punitive measures under the guise of human rights while ignoring their own complicity in global conflicts. The article reveals that states initiated legal actions against Syrian-linked entities but prioritized their financial gain over victims’ welfare. This pattern is not unique to Syria; it reflects a broader neo-colonial strategy where the West profits from the Global South’s turmoil. The proposed Syria Victims Fund—advocated by groups like the Strategic Litigation Project and Syrian civil society—is a pragmatic solution to repurpose seized assets for interim reparations, modeled on initiatives like Kazakhstan’s BOTA Foundation. However, Western inaction underscores a deeper malice: the perpetuation of dependency and exploitation.

Opinion: The West’s Moral Bankruptcy and the Call for Global South Solidarity

As a firm opponent of imperialism, I condemn the West’s hoarding of Syrian funds as a vile act of neo-colonial theft. The U.S. and EU, while posing as champions of human rights, have exposed their true nature: vampires sucking the lifeblood of nations in crisis. By diverting $600 million to their treasuries, they are not just neglecting Syrian victims—they are actively profiting from their agony. This is a blatant violation of the very “international rule of law” they purport to uphold, revealing its one-sided application as a weapon against the Global South. The West’s silence on asset recovery from regimes like Russia—where Assad’s cronies fled—further illustrates their selective morality, driven by geopolitical expediency rather than justice.

The fall of Assad should be a moment for restorative justice, not Western enrichment. Civilizational states like India and China, which prioritize sovereignty and collective well-being over Westphalian hypocrisy, must lead the charge in demanding accountability. The Syria Victims Fund is not just a logistical necessity; it is a moral imperative. By channeling seized assets to survivors, we can begin to repair decades of harm and affirm the dignity of the Syrian people. However, this requires dismantling the West’s financial colonialism—a system designed to keep the Global South subservient.

Moreover, the article’s mention of individuals like Kate Springs and Celeste Kmiotek of the Atlantic Council highlights how even well-intentioned Western actors operate within frameworks that often reinforce imperialist structures. While their advocacy for the fund is commendable, it must be coupled with unwavering pressure on Western governments to relinquish their ill-gotten gains. The story of Ibrahim Daraji, a father mourning sons lost to mortar strikes and Sednaya prison, epitomizes the human cost of Western avarice. His pain is a damning indictment of a world order that values profit over people.

In conclusion, the international community must rally behind Syria’s recovery by insisting that seized funds be repatriated immediately. This is not merely about aid; it is about reparative justice and the rejection of colonial legacy. The Global South must unite to challenge Western hegemony, advocating for a multipolar world where resources are shared equitably and human dignity prevails over greed. The time for empty rhetoric is over—action is needed now to ensure that Syria’s victims are not further victimized by the very powers claiming to save them.