Assad's Ba'ath launches private University with high premiums

In an unprecedented act, al-Ba’ath party announced the establishment of "Sham Private University" as one of its investments, what leaves the door wide open for many queries about the source of the money apart from the fate of money that has been stolen from the Syrians for decades.

The University will have many branches like Medicine, Pharmacology, Law,Education,  Tourism, Dentistry, Engineering, International Relations and Diplomacy, Administrative Sciences  and Faculty of Economic Sciences.

The University establishments benefited from the decree issued by president Bashar al-Assad in 2011, which considered an unprecedented act all over the word, for a party to establish a university under its name.

The new investment raised many question started in the beginning of Syrian Revolution about the fate of the property and money that regime possessed for decades on behalf of the party.

Many people still feel pain for their lands or properties or money that have been taken away or been let cheaply under “old lease law” as centres or headquarters for the party

An expert Economist who preferred not to mention his name said: “till now, no one knows the budget of al-Ba’ath Party and its organizations and how they are deducted from the state budget. The party has extended over decades, and it was clear how affluent and luxurious its centres and some members were, all that from people’s pocket”

“It is very striking today to hear that it announced investment in a very sensitive issue which is people’s Education and teaching, how can a corrupted party be responsible for Education? Will the university certificated be recognized abroad?”  The Economist questioned.

The expert continued: “Contradicting the journey of reform that Assad’s regime announced in 2011, many question about the reasons behind discriminating between parties and how some parties are allowed to invest in universities, while the rest not.” And he added that the regime kept stealing people shamelessly and no wonder if in future, al-Ba’ath party invest in properties stolen from people as if they are belong to it” 

The Economist added that the regime these days acts like it is staying forever, and he sees that what has been taken from people would be difficult to return, but all what can be done for the country future is that the opposition parties and movements like coalition and other must be honest and transparent in dealing with people’s and the country’s money and resources.

The Original Arabic Article; Translation by Yusra Ahmed