France seizes Assad family property in Paris

The authorities in France have seized property owned by Rifaat Al-Assad, the uncle of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, and the deputy of former dictator Hafez Al-Assad. The land in Paris was, it is alleged, acquired with embezzled funds, NewKhalij.org reported on Wednesday.

According to Le Figaro, planning permission has been sought for 29 homes and a nursery to be built on the land, which is located in one of the elite suburbs of Paris and is three-quarters of a square kilometre in size. Paris municipal council is due to vote on the application next week.

In June, the French authorities issued an arrest warrant against Rifaat Al-Assad, 78, on charges of acquiring properties with embezzled public funds and tax fraud, it was reported by Agence France-Presse.

Estimates of the value of the real estate owned in France by Assad and his family stand at €90 million (around $100m). Much of it was apparently registered in Luxemburg between 1984, when Assad senior arrived in Paris, and 1988.