A video of an elderly Syrian man crying in front of the ruins of his home in the Liramoun district of Aleppo has spread widely on social media. The man said he had spent about three months rebuilding the house himself with the help of neighbors, only for it to be demolished after the work was completed. The incident has once again drawn attention to the problem of unauthorized construction and the need to take humanitarian circumstances into account when making demolition decisions.
According to the man, the land and house had belonged to his father for decades. His previous home had been destroyed by the ousted regime, forcing him into displacement. After returning following the liberation, he could not afford to rebuild properly and began restoring the house himself, gradually raising funds and collecting materials. “I suffered for three months, slowly rebuilding it, and then they came and did this,” he said.
The elderly man expressed outrage, asking what people had endured war, loss and suffering for if they were later denied even the chance to rebuild their homes. After the video circulated, the case received official attention: Aleppo Governor Azzam Gharib called the demolition “unjustified” and ordered urgent measures to compensate the victim for the damage and provide assistance.
The governorate said the campaign to eliminate violations was aimed primarily at large-scale illegal developments linked to investors and construction traders, rather than at low-income people living in modest homes. Activists welcomed the authorities’ swift response, noting that the publication of the video had helped bring the man’s voice to the attention of the relevant officials.
The public discussion emphasized that the law must be applied with consideration for the specific circumstances. Bloggers called for a distinction between commercial violations and individual cases resulting from poverty, displacement and the lack of alternative housing. They also demanded the creation of an appeals mechanism, that owners be heard before demolitions, and that ownership and residence records be checked, since justice should involve not only compliance with the law but also the protection of human rights.
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How is it determined in Aleppo whether a structure is “illegal,” and what documents confirm ownership of the land or the restored house? — A structure is generally considered illegal if it was built without a permit, in violation of approved zoning or construction regulations, or on land whose ownership rights have not been established. Ownership or lawful possession is usually confirmed by a registered extract from the land registry (cadastre), a notarized contract, a court ruling on inheritance, or another document entered into the registry. Restoring a house may also require a construction permit, an approved plan, and documents confirming the applicant’s connection to the previous property. In practice, such documents are often missing or contradictory because of lost archives, informal transactions and inheritance disputes.
Which Aleppo governorate bodies make demolition decisions, and is there a procedure for prior notification and appeals for owners? — Construction and demolition matters are generally handled by local administrative bodies: the governorate, municipalities, city or district councils, as well as technical committees and construction-control authorities. The specific decision depends on the nature of the violation and the status of the land; in some cases, an order from a higher administrative body or a court ruling is required. As a rule, the owner should be notified, given an opportunity to submit documents and, where provided by law, allowed to challenge the decision administratively or in court. In practice, however, notification, deadlines and access to appeals may be inconsistent, particularly in areas with damaged administrative infrastructure or disputed jurisdiction.
How widespread is unauthorized housing reconstruction in Aleppo’s districts after the war and population displacement, and how do the authorities usually address legalization? — It is difficult to reliably determine the overall proportion of such properties: there is no complete unified registry, and the situation varies considerably between Aleppo city, rural areas and territories that have experienced changes in control. Unauthorized or partially documented reconstruction is common in places where people returned, repaired homes without a full set of permits, or occupied houses whose owners had been displaced. Authorities generally seek to resolve such cases by verifying rights to the land and housing, conducting technical assessments, collecting fines and issuing retroactive permits or incorporating the property into regulatory plans. If a violation is deemed impossible to remedy, the property may be ordered to be modified or demolished. Legalization is often complicated by disputed ownership rights, missing documents, zoning restrictions and policies concerning the return of displaced people.
Full version: "Why did we die a hundred deaths?".. Elderly man’s tears before the ruins of his home shake Aleppo