“BBC
Jamil Hassan, a feared man in Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime, known for torture and killing of civilians, was visibly shaken as he descended the stairs of his apartment building. With just a few suitcases and his family and security guards, the 72-year-old departed in a small convoy. Observing from a distance, a neighbor and her son witnessed the scene.
Upon entering Hassan’s abandoned apartment a few days later, signs of a hasty departure were evident. An uneaten carrot cake sat in the fridge, beds were scattered with clothes and empty shoeboxes, and wilted flowers adorned the dining room. Cups and plates were left to dry by the sink, while a framed photo of Hassan and Assad hung on the wall with a message: “Our skies are for us and forbidden to others.”
Hassan, nicknamed “the butcher” by many, was a menacing enforcer in Assad’s regime, overseeing detention facilities where torture was routine. Now wanted or sanctioned worldwide, regime figures like Hassan have fled their affluent homes in Damascus, leaving behind a trail of uncertainty.
Locals on Hassan’s street, now eerily silent, share stories of fear and intimidation while living near a war criminal. Hassan’s ruthless tactics have earned him convictions and travel bans in multiple countries, with allegations of conspiracy to commit war crimes.
Neighborhood residents recall a figure who was unapproachable, always surrounded by guards. Military personnel once stationed outside his building have since disappeared, leaving behind an abandoned guard post.
As rebels take over the homes of wanted officials like Hassan and Hussam Luka, signs of opulence and excess are evident. From abandoned fridges to plush furnishings and gold safes, these once-powerful figures have left behind a legacy of fear and uncertainty.
In the midst of chaos and looting, a neighbor’s words echo the sentiment of many: “We keep to ourselves, they keep to themselves. No one in this building interacts with each other.” The future remains uncertain as rebels repurpose these once-luxurious homes into bases for their operations.”