Syrian private airport plans spark outcry over mass graves, land rights

Syrian government plans to reclassify Mezzeh military airport for private jet use have sparked backlash from rights groups and residents, who warn the redevelopment could disturb suspected mass graves and override decades-old private land claims. Documents obtained by the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre show the site was used for executions under the Assad regime. Residents in Moadamiya have protested, demanding a say in the project.

Syrian government plans to turn the former Mezzeh military airport in Damascus into a hub for private jets have triggered backlash from human rights groups and local residents. The project, announced by Syria's civil aviation authority, aims to reclassify the airport for limited civilian use focused on private and executive aviation. However, documents obtained by the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) reveal that Mezzeh was used as an execution site under the Assad regime, with senior military officials approving it in 2012 for carrying out executions of detainees. SJAC has identified two suspected grave sites inside the airport, where more than 1,150 detainees died. The group has urged authorities to prevent construction until the sites are investigated. Separately, residents in the Moadamiya suburb have protested, claiming the airport was built on land expropriated from hundreds of private citizens without compensation. A former municipal official said compensation was never paid. The dispute highlights the challenge of balancing redevelopment with unresolved legacies of the Assad era.