Rami Machluf

Rami Machluf (arabisch رامي مخلوف, DMG Rāmī Maḫlūf; auch Makhlouf; * 10. Juli 1969 in Damaskus) ist ein syrischer Geschäftsmann.

Rami Machluf erkaufte sich nach Presseberichten 2010 die Staatsbürgerschaft der Republik Zypern und war damit EU-Bürger. Die Staatsbürgerschaft wurde 2013 durch einen Entschluss des zypriotischen Kabinetts widerrufen.

Geschäftstätigkeit

Machluf kontrollierte den syrischen Mobilfunkanbieter SyriaTel und ist Eigentümer der syrischen Fluggesellschaft Cham Wings Airlines. Analysten zufolge konnte vor dem syrischen Bürgerkrieg im Jahr 2011 ohne sein Einverständnis kein ausländisches Unternehmen Geschäfte in Syrien machen. Im Jahr 2019 kontrollierte er etwa 50 % bis 60 % der Wirtschafts Syriens. Das Privatvermögen von Rami Machluf und dessen Bruder Ihab wurde 2006 auf etwa drei Milliarden US-Dollar geschätzt. Auch mit Stand 2020 gilt die Familie Machluf als reichste Familie Syriens. Außer SyriaTel ist Rami im Rahmen der Familiengeschäfte auch an Immobilien- und Bankgeschäften, Freihandelszonen entlang der Grenze zum Libanon, Duty-free-Shops und Luxuskaufhäusern beteiligt, außerdem kontrollieren die Machlufs den Import von Tabak. Rami Machluf besitzt außerdem ausgedehnte Ländereien auf den US-amerikanischen Jungferninseln, die auch schon Gegenstand von Gerichtsverhandlungen waren. Als Ergebnis dieser Auseinandersetzungen wurde die Kontrolle über das US-Geschäft der Familie seinem Bruder Ihab übertragen. Außerdem ist er Eigentümer der syrischen Tageszeitung al-Watan.

Zeitweise kontrollierte Machluf während der 2000er Jahre auch den Import von Automobilen von Mercedes-Benz, den er den Gebrüdern Sanqar abrang, die seit den 1960ern die offiziellen Repräsentanten von Mercedes-Benz in Syrien waren. Als die Sanqars sich weigerten, den Import abzugeben, konnte Machluf durch seine Kontakte den syrischen Staat dazu bewegen, unter Ausnutzung einer Gesetzeslücke die Lieferungen von Ersatzteilen an die Sanqars zu unterbinden. Mercedes-Benz stoppte als Reaktion auf den Streit sämtliche Aktivitäten in Syrien, bis der Streit geklärt war, mittlerweile wird der Import wieder von den Gebrüdern Sanqar kontrolliert.

Zusammen mit Mahir al-Assad betreibt Rami Machluf eine Reihe verschiedener Projekte im Libanon. Es gibt Berichte über Spannungen zwischen den beiden, die als Ursache dafür angesehen werden, dass die Familie Machluf Teile ihres Geschäfts 2005 nach Dubai verlagert hat. Manche Beobachter führen diesen Transfer auch darauf zurück, dass die Machlufs besorgt darüber gewesen seien, im Rahmen einer propagandistischen Antikorruptionskampagne als Sündenbock geopfert zu werden.

Privates

Seine Ehefrau heißt Diana Celen. Er ist ein Cousin ersten Grades des syrischen Präsidenten Baschar al-Assad, dessen Mutter aus der Machluf-Familie stammt. Machluf, der als Symbol der Korruption des Assad-Regimes galt, wurde während der Proteste in Syrien 2011 zur Zielscheibe heftiger Kritik und beendete daraufhin im Juni 2011 seine Geschäftstätigkeiten weitgehend. Er lebt seitdem in Dubai.

Korruptionsvorwürfe

Rami Machluf pflegt ein enges Verhältnis zu seinem Cousin Baschar al-Assad und zu dessen Geschwistern Buschra und Mahir, mit dem er auch geschäftlich zusammenarbeitete. Unter politischen Beobachtern ist weitestgehend unstrittig, dass Machluf seinen großen Reichtum in erster Linie seiner engen Verbundenheit mit dem syrischen Regime verdankt. So wird berichtet, dass Baschar al-Assad sich, bevor er Präsident wurde, sogar während offizieller Treffen um Kontakte für ihn bemühte. In den Depeschen, die Wikileaks während der sogenannten Cablegate-Affäre Ende 2010 veröffentlichte, wird Machluf als mächtiger „regime financier“ bezeichnet.

Die Verhaftung und mehrjährige Haftstrafe für den syrischen Dissidenten Riad Seif steht im Zusammenhang mit dessen Kritik an Rami Machluf. Seif, Parlamentsabgeordneter und einer der vehementesten Regierungskritiker Syriens, wurde im Rahmen des Damaszener Frühlings 2001 durch seine scharfe Kritik auch über die Landesgrenzen hinaus bekannt. Trotz diverser Hinweise des syrischen Regimes, sich zurückzuhalten, startete er im September 2001 eine Kampagne gegen korrupte Praktiken bei der Vergabe der beiden GSM-Lizenzen, von denen eine an Machlufs SyriaTel vergeben worden war. Seifs Immunität wurde kurz darauf aufgehoben, er wurde festgenommen und für fünf Jahre eingesperrt. In Anlehnung an diese und andere Geschäftspraktiken Machlufs hat sich für den intransparenten Privatisierungsprozess unter Baschar al-Assad, bei dem Vetternwirtschaft an der Tagesordnung war, in Syrien der Begriff „Ramifizierung“ eingebürgert.

Machluf wird weiterhin vorgeworfen, im Libanon mit Hilfe des Geschäftsmannes Pierre Fattouch illegale Umleitungen libanesischer Telefonate zugunsten von SyriaTel vorgenommen zu haben.

Sein Name tauchte im Zusammenhang mit den sogenannten Paradise Papers, die Steuervermeidungstaktiken der Superreichen aufdecken, auf.

Nach Informationen des WeltN24 ist er der reichste Syrer. Er ist Kunde in Panama. US-Firmen dürfen mit Machluf keine Geschäfte machen. Des Weiteren sind seine Einlagen eingefroren, weil er sich auf Kosten des syrischen Volkes bereichert habe.

Bis Ende 2011 war Machluf Mitglied im Ehrenrat der Organisation Deutsch-Arabische Freundschaftsgesellschaft, die er laut einem Bericht von Spiegel Online auch mit finanziellen Zuwendungen bedacht hatte.

Rolle im Syrischen Bürgerkrieg

Von der Opposition wurde Machluf als Symbol der grassierenden Korruption und des Neopatrimonialismus in Syrien wahrgenommen. Bei den Protesten in Syrien 2011 beschimpften ihn Demonstranten in Darʿā als „Dieb“.

Machluf, der schon früher als einer der Hardliner des Regimes bekannt war, äußerte sich am 9. Mai 2011 gegenüber der New York Times kämpferisch und warnte davor, dass im Falle eines Sturzes des Regimes Krieg und religiös motivierte Gewalt wie im Irak drohen würden. Er kündigte an, dass das Regime schlimmstenfalls bis zum Ende kämpfen würde:

„Die Entscheidung der Regierung ist jetzt, dass sie entschieden haben zu kämpfen. […] Wir werden nicht weggehen, auf unserem Boot davonfahren, spielen gehen, wissen Sie. Wir werden hier sitzen. Wir nennen es einen Kampf bis zum Ende. Sie [die Demonstranten; Anm.] sollten wissen, wenn wir leiden, werden wir nicht alleine leiden.“

– Rami Machluf

Am 10. Mai 2011 setzte die Europäische Union ihn auf ihre Sanktionsliste, da er „die Regierung finanziert und [dadurch] Gewalt gegen Demonstranten ermöglicht“.

Am 16. Juni 2011 erklärte Machluf wegen der anhaltenden Proteste, dass er seine Geschäftstätigkeiten beenden, große Teile seiner Beteiligungen verkaufen und sich zukünftig der Wohlfahrt widmen werde. Sein Versuch, Teile seiner Aktien zu verkaufen und das Geld an „Angehörige der Opfer der Unruhen“ zu verteilen, scheiterte. Machluf verließ daraufhin das Land und lebt seitdem in Dubai.

Während des syrischen Bürgerkriegs wurden vier Tonnen Haschisch in Ägypten konfisziert, die sich in Kartons befanden auf denen der Name eines seiner Firmen stand; laut einem Medienbericht, der sich auf mehrere Quellen beruft, ist ein Konsortium von Rami Makhlouf für Tarnung und Export von Drogen aus Syrien, bspw. aus Kusseir, verantwortlich.

Am 24. Dezember 2019 beschlagnahmten syrische Behörden Machlufs Vermögenswerte wegen des Vorwurfs verschiedener Zollvergehen und daraus erwachsener Verbindlichkeiten von etwa 21 Millionen US-Dollar gegenüber dem syrischen Staat.

Im April und im Mai 2020 veröffentlichte Machluf mehrere Videobotschaften auf Facebook, in der er die syrische Regierung sowie seinen Cousin Baschar al-Assad darum bat, zu verhindern, dass die syrischen Behörden einen weiteren Teil seines Vermögens einziehen. Außerdem verteidigte er sich gegen den Vorwurf der Steuerhinterziehung und warnte vor dem Zusammenbruch von SyriaTel. Noch im Mai gab das syrische Finanzministerium bekannt, 230 Milliarden syrische Pfund (umgerechnet 120 Millionen Euro) aus Machlufs Vermögen zu beschlagnahmen.

Im Jahr 2020 übernahm Asma al-Assad die von Machluf geleiteten Hilfsorganisationen. Durch die Sanktionen ist es eine der wenigen Möglichkeiten, legal Geld ins Land zu bekommen. Die Gelder der Organisation werden dann an Familien verteilt, deren Ernährer im Bürgerkrieg für Assad gefallen sind.

Einzelnachweise

• 2024-03-04 10:47 (UTC) . . Hamasien (Fixed phrasing.)
• 2024-02-26 15:38 (UTC) . . David Gerard (w:en:WP:FREEBEACON is generally unreliable, not safely usable for factual claims)
• 2023-12-12 10:19 (UTC) . . JJMC89 bot III (Moving w:en::Category:Assad family to w:en::Category:Al-Assad family per w:en:Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2023 November 29#Category:Assad family)
• 2023-11-09 21:45 (UTC) . . Softlemonades (Clean up/copyedit, MOS:OL)
• 2023-09-03 12:14 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎Children's lifestyle: added year)
• 2023-09-03 12:12 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎Children's lifestyle: added missing full stop)
• 2023-08-29 17:04 (UTC) . . Chris the speller (→‎Syrian civil war:replaced: In Summer 2019 → In summer 2019)
• 2023-08-24 15:17 (UTC) . . Citation bot (Add: work. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | #UCB_CommandLine)
• 2023-06-09 00:29 (UTC) . . Jprg1966 (→‎Children lifestyle:)
• 2023-06-09 00:28 (UTC) . . Jprg1966 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2023-05-04 04:32 (UTC) . . TheDarkX (added w:en:Category:Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List using HotCat)
• 2023-04-22 22:53 (UTC) . . Losipov (Changing short description from "Syrian billionaire businessman" to "Syrian businessman (born 1969)")
• 2023-04-22 22:53 (UTC) . . Losipov (link w:en:Damascus University using Find link)
• 2023-04-14 00:47 (UTC) . . 2A02:908:4E3:9520:20D6:EA07:2F79:E3AB (→‎Business activities: spelling)
• 2023-03-16 00:30 (UTC) . . MusikBot II (Removing protection templates from unprotected page (more info))
• 2023-03-01 20:16 (UTC) . . Deepfriedokra (Adding {{pp-blp}}})
• 2023-03-01 20:16 (UTC) . . Deepfriedokra (Protected "w:en:Rami Makhlouf": Violations of the biographies of living persons policy w:en:WP:UNSOURCED; requested at w:en:WP:RfPP ([Edit=Require autoconfirmed or confirmed access] (expires 20:16, 15 March 2023 (UTC))))
• 2023-03-01 19:53 (UTC) . . Tacyarg (Restored revision 1136140668 by 91.231.66.219 (talk): BLP violations)
• 2023-03-01 19:45 (UTC) . . 188.101.250.151 (→‎Personal life:Informations of Dilan Diana Celen the young wife of the syrian businessman Rami Makhlouf.)
• 2023-03-01 08:53 (UTC) . . 46.114.167.110
• 2023-02-27 21:47 (UTC) . . Materialscientist (Reverted edits by 188.101.235.67 (talk): not providing a reliable source (w:en:WP:CITE, w:en:WP:RS) (HG) (3.4.12))
• 2023-02-27 21:47 (UTC) . . 188.101.235.67
• 2023-02-27 21:41 (UTC) . . 188.101.235.67
• 2023-02-27 21:34 (UTC) . . 188.101.235.67
• 2023-02-27 21:12 (UTC) . . 188.101.235.67
• 2023-02-27 21:00 (UTC) . . 188.101.235.67
• 2023-02-27 20:58 (UTC) . . 188.101.235.67
• 2023-02-24 19:50 (UTC) . . Filmssssssssssss (Reverted 1 edit by 188.101.245.125 (talk) to last revision by Filmssssssssssss)
• 2023-02-24 19:50 (UTC) . . 188.101.245.125
• 2023-02-24 19:40 (UTC) . . Filmssssssssssss (Reverted 4 edits by 188.101.245.125 (talk) to last revision by 188.101.241.246)
• 2023-02-24 19:39 (UTC) . . 188.101.245.125 (→‎Personal life:)
• 2023-02-24 19:34 (UTC) . . 188.101.245.125 (→‎Personal life:)
• 2023-02-24 19:32 (UTC) . . 188.101.245.125
• 2023-02-24 19:16 (UTC) . . 188.101.245.125
• 2023-02-24 15:53 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-24 15:41 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-24 15:36 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-24 15:33 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-24 15:27 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-24 14:42 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-24 14:40 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-24 14:36 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-24 14:31 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246 (→‎Personal life:)
• 2023-02-24 10:44 (UTC) . . 46.114.167.235
• 2023-02-24 10:41 (UTC) . . 46.114.167.235
• 2023-02-23 19:52 (UTC) . . Discospinster (Reverted edits by 188.101.241.246 (talk): not providing a reliable source (w:en:WP:CITE, w:en:WP:RS) (HG) (3.4.10))
• 2023-02-23 19:52 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-23 19:35 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-23 18:10 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-23 18:04 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-23 17:57 (UTC) . . 188.101.241.246
• 2023-02-23 17:28 (UTC) . . 188.101.232.28
• 2023-02-23 15:25 (UTC) . . 188.101.232.28
• 2023-02-23 15:17 (UTC) . . 188.101.232.28
• 2023-02-23 15:02 (UTC) . . 188.101.232.28 (The Facebook news of Rami Makhlouf and the secret truth about this family. fathers second/new wife and son´s homosexuality truth since 2021)
• 2023-02-23 14:36 (UTC) . . 188.101.232.28 (The Facebook news)
• 2023-01-28 23:02 (UTC) . . 91.231.66.219 (corrected the grammar)
• 2023-01-22 21:09 (UTC) . . Thepharoah17 (Moving from w:en:Category:Syrian businesspeople to w:en:Category:21st-century Syrian businesspeople using Cat-a-lot)
• 2022-12-10 20:03 (UTC) . . Citation bot (Alter: template type, title. Add: newspaper, authors 1-1. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Whoop whoop pull up | #UCB_webform 2023/2810)
• 2022-07-28 01:32 (UTC) . . AnomieBOT (Rescuing orphaned refs ("guardian" from rev 1098512714))
• 2022-07-28 00:46 (UTC) . . Vanisaac (→‎top:clean up deprecated parameter, removed: | net_worth = {{USD}}}10 billion (2020){{cite news |title=Syria's richest man inflames rare public dispute with Assad |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2)
• 2022-07-16 05:19 (UTC) . . Cactinites (→‎Early life and education:)
• 2022-07-06 08:46 (UTC) . . Geopony
• 2022-07-05 08:53 (UTC) . . Geopony
• 2022-07-05 08:52 (UTC) . . Geopony
• 2022-07-05 08:45 (UTC) . . Geopony (category)
• 2022-06-15 15:11 (UTC) . . GreenC bot (Rescued 2 archive links. Wayback Medic 2.5)
• 2022-06-05 10:14 (UTC) . . Geopony
• 2022-05-26 14:13 (UTC) . . Geopony (→‎Personal life: added information on children)
• 2022-05-26 14:00 (UTC) . . Geopony
• 2022-05-25 13:03 (UTC) . . Geopony (infobox pronunc)
• 2022-05-23 15:23 (UTC) . . Alas2022
• 2022-05-23 15:09 (UTC) . . Alas2022
• 2022-05-23 15:04 (UTC) . . Alas2022
• 2022-05-23 15:03 (UTC) . . Alas2022
• 2022-05-23 13:44 (UTC) . . Alas2022
• 2022-05-23 12:30 (UTC) . . Geopony (infobox name)
• 2022-05-23 12:29 (UTC) . . Geopony (infobox native name language)
• 2022-05-19 14:20 (UTC) . . Geopony (added brothers infobox)
• 2022-05-03 14:10 (UTC) . . Geopony
• 2022-05-03 12:33 (UTC) . . Geopony (→‎Syrian Civil War: SEA)
• 2022-05-03 12:18 (UTC) . . Geopony
• 2022-01-17 14:15 (UTC) . . 2405:201:D002:3E4B:F448:201F:39F4:D715
• 2022-01-17 14:12 (UTC) . . 2405:201:D002:3E4B:F448:201F:39F4:D715 (recent updates)
• 2022-01-08 05:12 (UTC) . . Defender20 (→‎Accusations of corruption: remove first name per standard)
• 2022-01-08 05:12 (UTC) . . Defender20 (→‎Business activities: remove first name per standard)
• 2022-01-08 05:10 (UTC) . . Defender20 (→‎Business activities: remove first name per standard)
• 2022-01-08 05:08 (UTC) . . Defender20 (minor c/e)
• 2021-12-29 09:02 (UTC) . . Geopony
• 2021-11-01 19:42 (UTC) . . Thepharoah17 (Move tag to top)
• 2021-10-27 20:55 (UTC) . . CausalDust (→‎Syrian Civil War: Grammar and clarification)
• 2021-10-27 20:22 (UTC) . . CausalDust (Added update on 2020 to Summary)
• 2021-10-20 17:48 (UTC) . . CausalDust (→‎Background: Added College degree.)
• 2021-10-16 16:39 (UTC) . . Citation bot (Alter: template type. Add: date, newspaper, authors 1-1. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | w:en:Category:Wikipedia articles in need of updating from October 2021 | #UCB_Category 161/382)
• 2021-10-12 20:21 (UTC) . . CausalDust (Spelling)
• 2021-10-12 20:19 (UTC) . . CausalDust (Grammar)
• 2021-10-04 08:50 (UTC) . . Alexander Davronov (past tense)
• 2021-10-03 23:52 (UTC) . . Alexander Davronov (Clarify dates)
• 2021-10-03 23:36 (UTC) . . Alexander Davronov
• 2021-09-14 04:32 (UTC) . . InternetArchiveBot (Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.8.1) (Nintendofan885 - 8702)
• 2021-08-11 10:29 (UTC) . . KajenCAT (added w:en:Category:People named in the Paradise Papers using HotCat)
• 2021-08-09 06:00 (UTC) . . Thepharoah17 (Added citizenship)
• 2021-07-11 00:06 (UTC) . . 14.54.77.204 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2021-07-05 17:42 (UTC) . . GreenC bot (Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5)
• 2021-06-24 15:00 (UTC) . . Karatesausage
• 2021-05-15 22:12 (UTC) . . Varavour
• 2021-05-15 01:56 (UTC) . . 37.38.196.209
• 2021-05-15 01:54 (UTC) . . 37.38.196.209
• 2021-05-15 01:53 (UTC) . . 37.38.196.209 (→‎Rami Makhlouf:)
• 2021-05-13 04:37 (UTC) . . Karatesausage (→‎Background:)
• 2021-05-13 04:35 (UTC) . . Karatesausage (Updated 2020 net worth per The Guardian & Reuters)
• 2021-02-05 21:18 (UTC) . . 2A02:908:4E1:4B60:D484:6755:B651:DE3 (Undid revision 1005062365 by 5.155.20.132 (talk))
• 2021-02-05 20:08 (UTC) . . 5.155.20.132 (added content)
• 2021-02-05 04:12 (UTC) . . 2A02:908:4E1:4B60:D484:6755:B651:DE3 (cleanup)
• 2021-01-20 06:57 (UTC) . . Citation bot (Alter: title. Add: work, s2cid, author pars. 1-1. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were actually parameter name changes. | You can use this bot yourself. Report bugs here. | Suggested by Abductive | w:en:Category:People of the Syrian civil war | via #UCB_Category 28/135)
• 2021-01-09 22:04 (UTC) . . 91.144.16.165
• 2021-01-09 22:03 (UTC) . . 91.144.16.165
• 2021-01-05 00:42 (UTC) . . Monkbot (Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 49 templates: hyphenate params (26×); cvt lang vals (3×);)
• 2020-12-24 10:28 (UTC) . . JJMC89 bot III (Moving w:en::Category:People of the Syrian Civil War to w:en::Category:People of the Syrian civil war per w:en:Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy)
• 2020-12-23 18:09 (UTC) . . Tom.Reding (Enum 2 author/editor WLs; w:en:WP:GenFixes on)
• 2020-11-07 16:40 (UTC) . . Abarmada
• 2020-11-01 20:03 (UTC) . . 175.202.8.226
• 2020-10-25 23:41 (UTC) . . ZakiWafiIdlib
• 2020-09-29 09:00 (UTC) . . Thepharoah17 (→‎Personal life:wl)
• 2020-09-29 08:59 (UTC) . . Thepharoah17 (Filled in 1 bare reference(s) with reFill 2)
• 2020-09-29 08:58 (UTC) . . Thepharoah17
• 2020-09-16 08:00 (UTC) . . Sidoroff-B
• 2020-09-16 07:59 (UTC) . . Sidoroff-B
• 2020-07-10 09:56 (UTC) . . NinjaRobotPirate (block evasion)
• 2020-07-07 20:18 (UTC) . . 222.117.188.124
• 2020-07-05 10:25 (UTC) . . Thepharoah17 (→‎Prosecution proceedings:)
• 2020-06-29 16:20 (UTC) . . 121.160.212.197
• 2020-06-29 16:09 (UTC) . . 121.160.212.197
• 2020-06-12 18:48 (UTC) . . Billguastalla (preposition →‎Personal life:)
• 2020-06-01 04:10 (UTC) . . 91.74.225.188 (Added names of Rami Makhlouf's father and his two sons.)
• 2020-05-27 22:57 (UTC) . . 39.122.155.124
• 2020-05-21 18:05 (UTC) . . Trappist the monk (→‎Personal life:remove 'invisible' characters from cs1|2 template parameters; (1× SHY))
• 2020-05-21 14:45 (UTC) . . 121.173.214.74 (Filled in 1 bare reference(s) with reFill 2)
• 2020-05-21 14:44 (UTC) . . 121.173.214.74
• 2020-05-21 04:43 (UTC) . . BD2412 (unlink AfD-deleted article)
• 2020-05-18 19:06 (UTC) . . Thepharoah17 (→‎Syrian Civil War:Grammar)
• 2020-05-17 22:52 (UTC) . . 118.35.127.199 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-06 15:29 (UTC) . . 175.197.56.220 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-06 15:24 (UTC) . . 175.197.56.220 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-06 15:19 (UTC) . . 175.197.56.220 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-06 15:18 (UTC) . . 175.197.56.220 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-06 14:22 (UTC) . . 175.197.56.220 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-06 14:20 (UTC) . . 175.197.56.220 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-06 14:19 (UTC) . . 175.197.56.220 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-02 19:20 (UTC) . . M900417 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-02 19:19 (UTC) . . M900417 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-02 19:18 (UTC) . . M900417 (→‎Business activities:)
• 2020-05-02 19:14 (UTC) . . M900417 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-05-02 09:46 (UTC) . . M900417 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-04-02 22:23 (UTC) . . Havradim (→‎Personal life: Copyedit)
• 2020-03-31 16:15 (UTC) . . 119.197.183.20 (→‎Syrian Civil War:)
• 2020-03-31 15:37 (UTC) . . 119.197.183.20 (→‎Business activities:)
• 2020-02-18 13:27 (UTC) . . Wbm1058 (removing merge template; please don't propose merges from draft space)
• 2020-01-29 14:16 (UTC) . . Less Unless (Added {{[[:w:en:Template:Merge from|Merge from]]}}} tag to article (TW))
• 2019-09-19 00:13 (UTC) . . BrownHairedGirl (replace link to deleted w:en:Portal:Syria with w:en:Portal:Asia ... per w:en:WP:Miscellany for deletion/Portal:Syria)
• 2019-09-13 23:55 (UTC) . . Tony1 (Script-assisted fixes: per w:en:MOS:NUM, w:en:MOS:CAPS, w:en:MOS:LINK)
• 2019-08-27 08:49 (UTC) . . Philip Cross (→‎Accusations of corruption: internal links)
• 2019-08-24 06:23 (UTC) . . AakashJetli (→‎Business activities: in the process)
• 2019-04-06 11:50 (UTC) . . InternetArchiveBot (Rescuing 2 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v2.0beta14) (Ost316))
• 2019-03-23 06:01 (UTC) . . Mr. Guye
• 2019-02-19 02:23 (UTC) . . Citation bot (Alter: template type, title. Add: issue, isbn. Removed accessdate with no specified URL. Removed parameters. | You can use this bot yourself. Report bugs here. | User-activated.)
• 2018-11-14 02:35 (UTC) . . Havradim (Undid revision 866120442 by 2A00:23C6:980:6100:D1B7:A173:3C3:61AD (talk) Neutral)
• 2018-10-28 11:18 (UTC) . . 2A00:23C6:980:6100:D1B7:A173:3C3:61AD (→‎Background:Changed from Syrian President to Syrian Dictator.)
• 2018-08-09 09:41 (UTC) . . United Union
• 2018-08-09 09:39 (UTC) . . United Union
• 2018-07-30 21:45 (UTC) . . Gene Wilson (→‎top:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(policy)/Archive_126#RfC:_Religion_in_biographical_infoboxes using AWB)
• 2018-06-20 05:29 (UTC) . . KolbertBot (Bot: HTTP→HTTPS (v485))
• 2018-06-06 04:22 (UTC) . . Jprg1966 (→‎Accusations of corruption:)
• 2018-05-08 03:58 (UTC) . . Dr.K. (Reverted edits by Vickduff (talk) to last version by Tom.Reding)
• 2018-05-08 03:55 (UTC) . . Vickduff
• 2018-05-08 03:53 (UTC) . . Vickduff
• 2018-04-30 23:02 (UTC) . . Tom.Reding (+{{[[:w:en:Template:Authority control|Authority control]]}}} (1 source from Wikidata), w:en:WP:GenFixes on, using AWB)
• 2018-04-04 20:49 (UTC) . . KolbertBot (Bot: HTTP→HTTPS (v485))
• 2018-03-15 20:04 (UTC) . . 50.64.112.36 (→‎Accusations of corruption: added link to Swiss Leaks)
• 2017-11-11 22:34 (UTC) . . Omnipaedista (per MOS:FORLANG)
• 2017-09-10 11:32 (UTC) . . KolbertBot (Bot: HTTP→HTTPS)
• 2017-07-07 05:07 (UTC) . . Keivan.f (→‎top:)
• 2017-07-01 21:39 (UTC) . . Bender the Bot (→‎Syrian Civil War:HTTP→HTTPS for w:en:Reuters, per BRFA 8 using AWB)
• 2017-06-25 06:56 (UTC) . . Bender the Bot (→‎Business activities:HTTP→HTTPS for w:en:US State Department, per BRFA 8 using AWB)
• 2017-06-13 10:05 (UTC) . . 109.22.199.131 (intra link)
• 2017-02-25 10:44 (UTC) . . Bender the Bot (HTTP→HTTPS for w:en:The New York Times. using AWB)
• 2017-02-01 21:55 (UTC) . . WereSpielChequers (→‎Business activities:Typo fixing, replaced: in in → in using AWB)
• 2017-01-30 01:42 (UTC) . . Willthorpe (Changed to "was the wife." Hafez al-Assad died in 2000)
• 2017-01-04 13:13 (UTC) . . 151.177.44.144 (→‎Accusations of corruption:)
• 2016-12-16 05:10 (UTC) . . Bender the Bot (clean up; http→https for w:en:The Guardian using AWB)
• 2016-11-13 18:34 (UTC) . . Emad eddin sankar (→‎Business activities:The family name of the Mercedes owner in syria is Sankar not Sanqar)
• 2016-11-13 05:44 (UTC) . . 121.75.204.76 (→‎Accusations of corruption:)
• 2016-09-02 15:58 (UTC) . . Sander.v.Ginkel (added w:en:Category:People named in the Panama Papers using HotCat)
• 2016-08-16 08:53 (UTC) . . Tsop (→‎Accusations of corruption:)
• 2016-07-21 22:02 (UTC) . . Keith D (→‎Accusations of corruption: fix cite date errors)
• 2016-07-19 09:05 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: corrected errant use of first name, Adding/improving reference(s))
• 2016-05-27 06:52 (UTC) . . Yobot (w:en:WP:CHECKWIKI error fixes using AWB (12016))
• 2016-05-26 10:13 (UTC) . . Lucy2487 (Addition of a brief outline of his business activities to the summary.)
• 2016-05-17 10:08 (UTC) . . Elinruby (Disambiguated: w:en:General Security Directorate → w:en:General Security Directorate (Syria))
• 2016-05-14 17:34 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎See also: add)
• 2016-05-14 15:51 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: Adding/improving reference(s) Copyedit (minor))
• 2016-05-14 15:45 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: ce)
• 2016-05-14 15:39 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: mv text)
• 2016-05-14 15:38 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Business activities: ce)
• 2016-05-14 15:28 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: ce)
• 2016-05-14 15:25 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: Adding/improving reference(s))
• 2016-05-14 15:16 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: fix)
• 2016-05-14 15:14 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: Adding/improving reference(s) Expanding article Adding/improving reference(s))
• 2016-05-14 14:50 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: rm passive tense)
• 2016-05-14 14:44 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: Adding/improving reference(s) Expanding article)
• 2016-05-14 14:24 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption:)
• 2016-05-14 14:16 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: Copyedit (major)fr move text to here)
• 2016-05-14 13:07 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Accusations of corruption: ce)
• 2016-05-14 12:56 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Syrian Civil War: syntax)
• 2016-05-14 12:55 (UTC) . . Elinruby (→‎Business activities: Copyedit (minor))
• 2016-05-14 12:44 (UTC) . . Elinruby (ce. trying to smooth awkward wording,)
• 2016-05-14 12:41 (UTC) . . Elinruby (2 source contradict; think Le Monde more reliable, Moving CNN elsewhere since mention is only in passing anyway. CE)
• 2016-05-10 13:09 (UTC) . . KasparBot (migrating Persondata to Wikidata, please help, see challenges for this article)
• 2016-05-10 05:49 (UTC) . . Thomas Lawrence, esq. (Added more detail to Makhlouf's implication in the context of the pre-war national economy of Syria.)
• 2016-04-08 02:14 (UTC) . . 125.255.41.146 (→‎Accusations of corruption:)
• 2016-03-03 03:36 (UTC) . . Scanlan (→‎Background:)
• 2016-03-01 14:08 (UTC) . . Trappist the monk (→‎Accusations of corruption:crudely translate Internetquelle to cite web; using AWB)
• 2016-02-23 14:49 (UTC) . . Xezbeth (fix link)
• 2015-09-03 11:11 (UTC) . . 2.216.66.12
• 2015-04-12 20:35 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎External links:)
• 2015-01-17 16:42 (UTC) . . Filedelinkerbot (Bot: Removing w:en:Commons:File:Rami Makhlouf.jpg (en). It was deleted on Commons by Steinsplitter (Copyright violation, see w:en:Commons:Commons:Licensing).)
• 2015-01-13 18:46 (UTC) . . Hayg9
• 2014-08-21 20:11 (UTC) . . 86.164.101.145 (Added the late Syrian President to Hafez al Assad)
• 2014-06-29 15:55 (UTC) . . LibDutch (→‎See also:)
• 2014-06-29 15:55 (UTC) . . LibDutch (→‎Accusations of corruption:)
• 2014-06-29 15:04 (UTC) . . LibDutch (→‎Accusations of corruption:)
• 2014-06-05 08:44 (UTC) . . Rjwilmsi (→‎Business activities:Added 1 doi to a journal cite using AWB (10222))
• 2014-06-04 08:43 (UTC) . . LibDutch (→‎2011 Syrian uprising:)
• 2014-03-08 10:53 (UTC) . . Guest2625
• 2014-03-08 07:16 (UTC) . . 212.11.162.171
• 2014-03-08 07:10 (UTC) . . 212.11.162.171 (→‎Background:)
• 2014-01-29 02:43 (UTC) . . Monkbot (→‎Business activities:Fix CS1 deprecated date parameter errors)
• 2013-12-29 18:19 (UTC) . . BattyBot (fixed CS1 errors: dates & General fixes using AWB (9816))
• 2013-12-22 22:00 (UTC) . . 87.231.109.236
• 2013-12-14 13:37 (UTC) . . 212.181.160.22 (Speculations and rumors)
• 2013-12-13 22:55 (UTC) . . IrrtNie
• 2013-12-13 22:53 (UTC) . . IrrtNie
• 2013-12-11 12:42 (UTC) . . Bender235
• 2013-12-04 22:35 (UTC) . . Cydebot (Robot - Speedily moving category People of the Syrian civil war to w:en::Category:People of the Syrian Civil War per CFDS.)
• 2013-10-13 19:28 (UTC) . . Egeymi
• 2013-10-13 19:17 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎Business activities: put source)
• 2013-08-31 18:27 (UTC) . . HandsomeFella (caps)
• 2013-08-28 21:17 (UTC) . . 900mill
• 2013-07-21 21:25 (UTC) . . Mogism (→‎Background:Cleanup/Typo fixing, typos fixed: $6 billion dollars → $6 billion using AWB)
• 2013-07-09 16:46 (UTC) . . Mogism (→‎Business Activities:Cleanup/Typo fixing, typos fixed: ,, → , using AWB)
• 2013-05-24 07:16 (UTC) . . 194.126.5.131
• 2013-03-29 00:22 (UTC) . . Sematz
• 2013-03-07 20:52 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎Business Activities:)
• 2013-03-07 20:49 (UTC) . . Egeymi
• 2013-02-26 16:36 (UTC) . . Addbot (Bot: Migrating 6 interwiki links, now provided by Wikidata on w:en:d:q599233 (Report Errors))
• 2013-01-08 04:20 (UTC) . . 76.173.132.206
• 2012-11-30 16:09 (UTC) . . Titodutta (Persondata: added name "Makhlouf, Rami", added short description "Syrian businessman" using Persondata-o-matic)
• 2012-11-24 04:45 (UTC) . . WhisperToMe (→‎See also:)
• 2012-10-21 20:05 (UTC) . . EmausBot (r2.7.2+) (Robot: Modifying w:en:de:Rami Machluf)
• 2012-09-08 11:19 (UTC) . . Clivemacd (→‎Background:)
• 2012-09-02 22:23 (UTC) . . Cydebot (Robot - Speedily moving category People of the Syrian Civil War to w:en::Category:People of the Syrian civil war per CFDS.)
• 2012-08-26 05:53 (UTC) . . Guest2625 (in source)
• 2012-08-07 20:52 (UTC) . . Cydebot (Robot - Speedily moving category People of the 2011 Syrian uprising to w:en::Category:People of the Syrian Civil War per CFDS.)
• 2012-08-05 15:28 (UTC) . . Syrianview (→‎Business Activities:)
• 2012-07-29 04:31 (UTC) . . YFdyh-bot (r2.7.3) (Robot: Adding w:en:zh:拉米·马赫卢夫)
• 2012-07-23 01:39 (UTC) . . Connormah
• 2012-07-21 16:33 (UTC) . . 31.47.12.228
• 2012-07-20 08:36 (UTC) . . Superzohar
• 2012-07-19 08:59 (UTC) . . Egeymi
• 2012-07-19 05:15 (UTC) . . Egeymi (Reverted 1 edit by 31.47.12.228 (talk): Alawi means Islam. (TW))
• 2012-07-19 00:03 (UTC) . . 31.47.12.228
• 2012-07-18 22:15 (UTC) . . Boud (→‎2011 Syrian uprising: "quit the Syrian business scene" is a quote from the Thomson Reuters paraphrase)
• 2012-07-17 05:47 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎2011 Syrian uprising:)
• 2012-07-16 23:34 (UTC) . . Boud (→‎2011 Syrian uprising: wording)
• 2012-07-16 23:20 (UTC) . . Boud (→‎2011 Syrian uprising: Syria Files update)
• 2012-07-16 23:18 (UTC) . . Boud (→‎References: Syria Files refs)
• 2012-07-14 23:07 (UTC) . . Egeymi
• 2012-07-10 23:17 (UTC) . . FrescoBot (Bot: fixing section wikilinks)
• 2012-07-06 09:04 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎Business Activities:)
• 2012-07-06 08:25 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎External links: deleted dead ext links)
• 2012-07-06 08:21 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎External links: deleted dead ext link)
• 2012-07-06 08:20 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎References: deleted dead link)
• 2012-07-06 08:19 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎External links:)
• 2012-07-06 08:18 (UTC) . . Egeymi (this ext link is used in the text)
• 2012-07-06 08:14 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎External links: deleted dead ext link)
• 2012-07-05 23:48 (UTC) . . Egeymi
• 2012-07-05 23:41 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎Business Activities:)
• 2012-07-05 23:36 (UTC) . . Egeymi (→‎2011 Syrian uprising:)
• 2012-07-03 19:31 (UTC) . . Dexbot (r2.7.1) (Robot: Adding w:en:fa:رامی مخلوف)
• 2012-05-27 21:08 (UTC) . . Sopher99 (Undid revision 494198306 by 70.71.17.180 (talk))
• 2012-05-24 19:31 (UTC) . . 70.71.17.180
• 2012-03-23 08:21 (UTC) . . Materialscientist (Reverted edits by 124.149.164.9 (talk) to last version by Dongledad)
• 2012-03-23 07:55 (UTC) . . 124.149.164.9
• 2012-03-08 15:12 (UTC) . . Dongledad (→‎Business Activities:)
• 2012-03-03 21:01 (UTC) . . Edward (link w:en:duty-free shop using Find link)
• 2012-02-26 21:02 (UTC) . . ZéroBot (r2.7.1) (Robot: Adding w:en:pt:Rami Makhlouf)
• 2012-02-19 04:31 (UTC) . . 109.246.1.180 (→‎Business Activities:)
• 2012-02-19 04:30 (UTC) . . 109.246.1.180 (→‎Background:)
• 2012-02-19 04:23 (UTC) . . 109.246.1.180 (→‎Business Activities:)
• 2012-02-17 19:52 (UTC) . . Favonian (Bypass redirect to w:en:ORF (broadcaster) using AWB)
• 2012-01-28 21:39 (UTC) . . 109.246.1.180 (→‎Background:)
• 2012-01-26 17:45 (UTC) . . Zozo2kx (added w:en:Category:Assad family using HotCat)
• 2012-01-26 17:39 (UTC) . . Zozo2kx (added w:en:Category:Syrian businesspeople using HotCat)
• 2012-01-13 21:57 (UTC) . . Guest2625 (→‎Business Activities:)
• 2012-01-13 21:18 (UTC) . . LittleWink (Disambiguated: w:en:Al Watan → w:en:Al-Watan (Syria); Help needed: w:en:Mercedes)
• 2011-12-24 04:59 (UTC) . . Cydebot (Robot - Speedily moving category People of the 2011 Syrian protests to w:en::Category:People of the 2011 Syrian uprising per CFDS.)
• 2011-11-17 22:20 (UTC) . . VolkovBot (r2.5.1) (Robot: Modifying w:en:ru:Махлуф, Рами)
• 2011-10-04 02:34 (UTC) . . Guest2625 (Undid revision 453797196 by 24.153.246.211 (talk) please explain why sentence and reference should be removed)
• 2011-10-03 23:53 (UTC) . . 24.153.246.211
• 2011-10-02 17:18 (UTC) . . ZéroBot (r2.7.1) (Robot: Adding w:en:ru:Рами Махлуф)
• 2011-10-02 06:19 (UTC) . . 66.25.17.206 (→‎Background:)
• 2011-10-02 06:18 (UTC) . . 66.25.17.206 (→‎Background:)
• 2011-09-24 17:58 (UTC) . . Elph
• 2011-09-12 05:17 (UTC) . . RjwilmsiBot (CiteCompletion, dates: 1, locations: 1, using AWB (7822))
• 2011-08-29 00:48 (UTC) . . Guest2625 (Undid revision 447053571 by LiquidCake (talk))
• 2011-08-27 23:27 (UTC) . . LiquidCake
• 2011-08-18 15:54 (UTC) . . Equilibrial (→‎External links:)
• 2011-08-16 13:15 (UTC) . . Equilibrial (clean up, typos fixed: satelite → satellite, Lebanesse → Lebanese using AWB)
• 2011-07-30 00:42 (UTC) . . Guest2625 (added material and rearrangement of some material)
• 2011-07-22 07:14 (UTC) . . 77.42.244.85 (→‎External links:)
• 2011-07-22 07:14 (UTC) . . 77.42.244.85 (→‎External links:)
• 2011-07-22 07:13 (UTC) . . 77.42.244.85 (→‎External links:)
• 2011-07-16 14:50 (UTC) . . Sean.hoyland (rm religion per w:en:WP:BLPCAT.)
• 2011-07-13 22:04 (UTC) . . Yobot (Updated infobox (BRFA 15), removed stub tag using AWB (7783))
• 2011-07-08 20:10 (UTC) . . 31.47.14.109
• 2011-06-25 13:30 (UTC) . . 78.108.169.8 (→‎External links:)
• 2011-06-25 13:28 (UTC) . . 78.108.169.8 (→‎References:)
• 2011-06-21 13:08 (UTC) . . Guest2625 (Filling in 2 references using Reflinks)
• 2011-06-20 03:57 (UTC) . . 24.90.62.25
• 2011-06-18 12:58 (UTC) . . Eumolpo (orthographic correction)
• 2011-06-14 02:45 (UTC) . . Guest2625 (additional material from the german wikipedia page: http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rami_Makhluf&oldid=88034887)
• 2011-06-13 22:02 (UTC) . . Louis P. Boog (de-tagged, hopefully I have cleaned it up)
• 2011-06-10 20:56 (UTC) . . Louis P. Boog (adding and encyclopediaizing)
• 2011-06-03 22:41 (UTC) . . Rangoon11 (→‎External links: Template added)
• 2011-05-23 22:19 (UTC) . . 24.90.62.25
• 2011-05-10 18:38 (UTC) . . DMCer (removed "and, and, and, and...." summarized wealth without vague wording.)
• 2011-05-10 15:23 (UTC) . . Flatterworld (→‎External links:)
• 2011-05-10 15:20 (UTC) . . Flatterworld
• 2011-04-30 21:23 (UTC) . . 72.234.244.248
• 2011-04-28 11:57 (UTC) . . Kiril Simeonovski
• 2011-04-26 00:31 (UTC) . . Flatterworld
• 2011-04-25 23:45 (UTC) . . Flatterworld (→‎References:)
• 2011-04-17 18:56 (UTC) . . Kharateez
• 2011-03-26 16:47 (UTC) . . Stefanomione (added w:en:Category:People of the 2011 Syrian protests using HotCat)
• 2011-03-24 15:12 (UTC) . . MystBot (r2.7.1) (robot Adding: w:en:de:Rami Makhluf)
• 2011-03-21 12:52 (UTC) . . وليد شرف الدين
• 2011-02-13 21:56 (UTC) . . Pax85 (Added {{[[:w:en:Template:weasel|weasel]]}} and {{[[:w:en:Template:wikify|wikify]]}}} tags to article using TW)
• 2011-02-13 21:38 (UTC) . . 98.151.53.27 (→‎References:)
• 2011-02-13 21:37 (UTC) . . 98.151.53.27 (→‎References:)
• 2011-02-13 21:37 (UTC) . . 98.151.53.27 (→‎References:)
• 2011-02-13 21:37 (UTC) . . 98.151.53.27
• 2011-02-13 21:36 (UTC) . . 98.151.53.27
• 2011-02-13 21:06 (UTC) . . Pax85 (Added {{[[:w:en:Template:catimprove|catimprove]]}}, {{[[:w:en:Template:weasel|weasel]]}} and {{[[:w:en:Template:wikify|wikify]]}}} tags to article using TW)
• 2011-02-13 21:03 (UTC) . . Pax85 (added stub tag and fixed some linking, removed afc tag)
• 2011-02-13 20:52 (UTC) . . Pax85 (moved w:en:Wikipedia talk:Articles for creation/Rami Makhlouf to w:en:Rami Makhlouf: Created via Articles for Creation (you can help!))
• 2011-02-13 20:50 (UTC) . . Pax85 (Reviewing Submission)
• 2011-02-13 18:03 (UTC) . . Kharateez
• 2011-02-13 16:04 (UTC) . . Kharateez
• 2011-02-13 15:56 (UTC) . . Kharateez
• 2011-02-13 15:47 (UTC) . . Kharateez (←Created page with '{{subst:AFC submission/submit}}} Rami Makhlouf (b. 1969) is the first cousin of Syria...')

Rami Makhlouf (Vorlage:Lang-ar; born 10 July 1969) is a Syrian businessman and the maternal cousin of president Bashar al-Assad. At the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, he was considered to be one of Syria's most richest and most powerful men. According to Syrian analysts, he is part of al-Assad's inner circle and no foreign company could do business in Syria at the time without his consent and partnership.

In 2016, he was reported to own Syriatel, the largest mobile phone network in Syria, along with other retail, banking and real estate companies. Makhlouf had a falling out with al-Assad in the spring of 2020 and was placed under house arrest, resulting in the arrest of many of his aides, along with the targeting of his companies by security forces. He was stripped of his shares in Syriatel, and the consortium he had established as the biggest investment vehicle in Syria was also taken off line. Makhlouf's remaining assets in Syria are considered to be insignificant compared to the billions he has transferred abroad on behalf of Bashar al-Assad.

Early life and education

Rami Makhlouf was born on 10 July 1969, and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from Damascus University in 1993. He is related to the Assad family through his aunt, Anisa Makhlouf, who was the wife of the late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad. Makhlouf's personal wealth accumulated abroad was estimated to be in excess of $10 billion in 2020.

Business activities

Makhlouf is the main owner of Syriatel, one of two licensed mobile phone companies in Syria. Besides Syriatel, he is involved in real estate, banking, free trade zones along the border with Lebanon, duty-free shops, and luxury department stores. According to the Financial Times, he is thought to control as much as 60% of the Syrian economy through his web of business interests.

Makhlouf was among a diverse group of connected insiders who monopolized the small, but growing, Syrian private sector in the 1990s. As President Hafez al-Assad prepared for his son's succession, the distribution of assets from privatization began to shift clearly in favor of the Makhloufs. Assad believed the Makhlouf family could be relied upon to support Bashar without reserve in the uncertain political environment that would follow upon his death, unlike other insiders, who had close financial ties to billionaire Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, such as former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam. Rami and his brother Ihab therefore enjoyed easy access to opportunities such as an exclusive license to operate a network of duty-free retail shops, where a significant portion of goods were redistributed inside the country. By the time Bashar assumed power in 2000, Rami Makhlouf was well established.

Makhlouf is thought to have tried in 2004 to take over the Mercedes concession in Syria, by ensuring passage of a law denying Mercedes the right to import parts unless Makhlouf was made the exclusive agent for Mercedes in Syria. Mercedes wanted to keep the Sankar family, who had had the concession since the 1960s. Mercedes ceased all activity in Syria until the dispute was resolved, and the Mercedes concession is now once again controlled by the Sankar family.

Makhlouf's current business interests are extensive, which include business interests in Syria’s oil and gas industries, banking, construction and duty-free shops. He is the majority owner of Cham Holding which has investments in luxury tourism, restaurants, and real estate through Bena Properties. Cham Holding also controls Syrian Pearl Airlines, the first private airline to be allowed in the country. He is also invested in several private banks established in Syria, such as the International Islamic Bank of Syria, Al Baraka Bank, International Bank of Qatar, Cham Bank, and the Bank of Jordan in Syria; in insurance and financial services companies, such as Cham Capital. Like his father, Mohammed Makhlouf, he is active in the oil sector, via the British oil company Gulfsands Petroleum. He is also invested in real estate companies such as Sourouh, Fajr, Al Batra, and Al Hada'iq; in tourism companies such as Al Mada'in and in media companies such as the daily Al Watan, radio/television station Ninar and satellite station Dunya TV, advertising companies like Promedia; in education companies such as the Choueifat schools; in industry through the Eltel Middle East company; and in public works companies such as Ramak TP. Rami Makhlouf has extensive land holdings in the United States Virgin Islands, which were the subject of court litigation. Because of this litigation he transferred his U.S. holdings to his brother Ihab. The Makhloufs also have a monopoly on the import of tobacco into Syria. In 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department froze the U.S. assets and restricted the financial transactions of Rami Makhlouf.

Makhlouf maintains a close relationship with Bushra al-Assad, Bashar's older sister, and her husband Assef Shawkat. He also operates a number of business projects in Lebanon with Maher al-Assad, Bashar's younger brother. There are reports of tensions between the two, which is thought to explain why parts of the Makhlouf business were shifted in 2005 to Dubai. Some observers believe the transfers were made because the Makhloufs were worried that they were going to be made the scapegoats of an anti-corruption propaganda campaign.

On 5 July 2012, it was reported that the Central Bank of the UAE ordered the banks and financial institutions to search for and submit details of any financial assets and transactions performed by the Syrian ruling elite, including Rami Makhlouf. This search was based on the decision of the Ministerial Council of the League of Arab States dated 27 November 2011, to impose multiple sanctions on Syria, and on and decisions issued by the European Union and the United States involving economic sanctions on Syria.

Controversies

Accusations of corruption

In February 2008, the United States Department of the Treasury designated Makhlouf as a beneficiary and facilitator of public corruption in Syria. His influence and connections within the government have allowed him to control the issuance of certain types of profitable commodities contracts, it said. According to the US Treasury, "Makhlouf has manipulated the Syrian judicial system and used Syrian intelligence officials to intimidate his business rivals. He employed these techniques when trying to acquire exclusive licenses to represent foreign companies in Syria and to obtain contract awards." On 10 May 2011, the European Union placed sanctions on him for "bankrolling the government and allowing violence against demonstrators". Makhlouf's brother Hafez Makhlouf was until 2014 head of Syria's intelligence agency, the General Security Directorate.

Political observers generally accept that Makhlouf's great wealth is a result of his close family ties to the Syrian government. It is reported that Bashar al-Assad before he became president would during official meetings try to make business contacts for Rami. In leaked US diplomatic cables, Rami Makhlouf is described as a powerful government financer. Makhlouf has further been accused of illegally diverting Lebanese telephone calls through Syria with the help of businessman Pierre Fattouch for the benefit of Syriatel.

Makhlouf controlled three Syrian companies close to the government of Bashar Al-Assad – Maxima Middle East Trading, Morgan Additives Manufacturing and Pangates International. These companies used Mossack Fonseca shell companies registered in the Seychelles and British Virgin Islands to ease the pressure global sanctions put on his cousin's regime. He paid for the Syrian Air Force helicopter fuel through shell companies, for example. The US Treasury sanctioned Makhlouf, charging that Pangates had supplied the Assad government with a thousand tonnes of aviation fuel.

Makhlouf was able to continue unimpeded operations through the shell companies, since neither jurisdiction fell under US law; however the EU sanctions did affect the companies in the British Virgin Islands. HSBC told the law firm that the Swiss authorities had frozen Makhlouf's accounts, and that "they have had no contact with the beneficial owner of this company since the last 3 months". The Swiss Federal Administrative Court in 2015 rejected an appeal of the block on his use of an undisclosed sum in his Swiss accounts.

Makhlouf was seen by the rebels as a symbol of corruption in Syria. In Daraa during the Syrian Civil War, demonstrators called him a "thief". Syrian dissident Riad Seif was arrested and imprisoned for several years because of his criticism of Rami Makhlouf. Seif, a member of parliament and one of the most ardent critics of the Syrian government, became known outside of Syria because of his criticism of the government during the Damascus Spring of 2001. Despite several warnings from the Syrian government not to interfere, Seif began an anticorruption campaign in September 2001 against the way the two GSM mobile phone licenses were awarded, of which one to Maklouf's Syriatel. Shortly thereafter Seif lost his parliamentary immunity and was arrested and imprisoned for five years. United Nations observers at its Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, set up in 2011, have documented "mass arrests by regime forces, leading to the enforced disappearance of large groups of fighting-age men."

Makhlouf was implicated in the leaked 2016 Panama Papers, which detailed his control over Syria's national industries. His name also surfaced as part of the Swissleaks investigation. Frederik Obermaier, an investigative reporter at the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, told Democracy Now!: "[Mossack Fonseca] realised that [Makhlouf] was the cousin, and they realised that he was sanctioned, and they realised that he's allegedly one of the financiers of the Syrian regime. And they said, 'Oh, there is this bank who still does business with him, so we should still keep with him, as well'."

Syrian civil war

Some opposition activists during the Syrian civil war accused Makhlouf of financing pro-government demonstrations both across Syria and abroad, by providing flags, meals and money for those participating. The tycoon insisted his businesses are legitimate and provide professional employment for thousands of Syrians. Opposition activists claim that Makhlouf finances the Syrian Electronic Army, and masterminded its move out of Syria to one of his Dubai companies.

On 9 May 2011, Makhlouf said that "if there is no stability here, there's no way there will be stability in Israel", then he added, "no way, and nobody can guarantee what will happen after, God forbid, anything happens to this regime", in an interview with The New York Times.

On 16 June 2011, Makhlouf stated that he would "quit the Syrian business scene". Syria Files examined by Al Akhbar showed that Makhlouf continued to invest in several banks during 2011 and 2012. In late January 2012, he bought about 15 times as many shares (by value) as he sold, buying Vorlage:Currency and selling Vorlage:Currency of shares, mostly in Qatar National Bank–Syria and Syria International Islamic Bank.

In summer 2019, Makhlouf's charitable network, the al-Bustan Association, was forced to shut down. It had previously supported the families of fallen soldiers and funded a militia of about 20,000 men. In December 2019, Syrian customs issued an order to freeze Beirut-registered Abar Petroleum Service SAL assets, including assets of Makhlouf, for violating import regulations by smuggling Vorlage:Currency worth of goods. Moreover, Makhlouf was also accused of smuggling oil into Syria, in breach of international sanctions. On 22 April 2020, Egyptian authorities seized 4 tonnes of hashish hidden in a cargo of milk cartons, related to a company owned by Makhlouf, in Port Said which was heading to Libya; however, he later claimed that the incident was a set-up aimed at "defaming" him.

Prosecution proceedings

On 1 May 2020, Makhlouf made an "unprecedented" public appeal to his cousin President Bashar al-Assad on Facebook, saying a "cadre of officials" were seeking to seize his assets, as he was pressured to hand over in excess of Vorlage:Currency due to tax evasion. Makhlouf, who was a part of President al-Assad's inner circle said he would pay the President himself but not the state. Two days later, he posted another video on Facebook, where he mentioned that Syrian security forces arrested some of his employees. However, speculations indicate that the Syrian first lady, Asma al-Assad, has been responsible for the whole plot, the reason was that "many businessmen loyal to Asma Assad competed with Makhlouf for control of diminishing resources, after the collapse of the Syrian pound, along with sanctions, made the space in which they compete narrow and difficult", according to Dr. Muhannad Al-Hajj Ali, a researcher at the Carnegie Middle East Center. In addition, the Syrian authorities might have targeted Makhlouf in order to find resources prior to the implementation of U.S. sanctions related to the Caesar Act.

On 17 May, Makhlouf posted another video on Facebook, where he mentioned rising pressure on him to hand over profits or might be arrested. On 19 May, the Syrian government seized all assets belonging to Makhlouf. On 21 May, a Syrian court placed a temporary travel ban on Makhlouf. On 25 June, the Syrian government terminated duty free contracts in all ports and border crossings with companies affiliated with Makhlouf.

Children's lifestyle

Rami Makhlouf's children have garnered controversy for their luxurious lifestyle. Ali Makhlouf is an Instagram celebrity with over 250,000 followers caused controversy when he was spotted in Beverly Hills, California driving a Ferrari Spider in 2021. Rami Makhlouf's other son, Mohammed Makhlouf, was briefly detained in Syria after outrage over his luxury influencer lifestyle.

Personal life

Makhlouf is married to Razan Othman. They have two sons, Mohammad and Ali Makhlouf.

Other citizenships

Rami Makhlouf applied but failed to obtain Austrian citizenship from 2009 to 2011. In the meantime, he held Cypriot citizenship from 2010 to 2011, which was revoked when the civil war broke out in Syria.

See also

• Al-Assad family
• Syrian civil war

External links

• Syrian Businessman Becomes Magnet for Anger and Dissent, Anthony Shadid, The New York Times, 30 April 2011