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Protests

Stone cutters protest new taxes in Syria's Idlib

By Waleed Abu al-Khair in Cairo

Two stone cutters hold a sign accusing Tahrir al-Sham of robbery with high taxes. [Photo courtesy of Musab Assaf]

Two stone cutters hold a sign accusing Tahrir al-Sham of robbery with high taxes. [Photo courtesy of Musab Assaf]

Stone cutters in Syria's northern Idlib province have stepped up their protests against Tahrir al-Sham over an increase in taxes imposed by the extremist alliance that largely controls the region, a local activist said.

Stone-cutting mill owners fear this will lead to a drop in demand for their product and will force them to cut wages to offset losses.

Stone cutters escalated their protest against Tahrir al-Sham on July 8th after the alliance raised the levies imposed on stone-carrying trucks from $400 to $1,500, Idlib-based activist Musab Assaf told Diyaruna.

"The protesters began by blocking a road with burning tires and rocks near the international Aleppo-Damascus highway that passes near the town of Maasaran, where a large group raised banners protesting the high taxes," he said.

Stone cutters protest Tahrir al-Sham's decision to raise taxes. [Photo courtesy of Musab Assaf]

Stone cutters protest Tahrir al-Sham's decision to raise taxes. [Photo courtesy of Musab Assaf]

The next day, they halted work and the delivery of orders to deprive Tahrir al-Sham of the expected revenue, Assaf said.

"The drivers of stone-carrying trucks are considering joining the protest movement," he said, "as they too are affected by the new taxes, and preparations are being made for a wider protest by mill workers and their families."

Stone-cutting provides a livelihood for hundreds of families in Hama and rural Idlib province, Assaf said.

Boulders are transported in from all regions, including regime-controlled areas, to be cut, and the finished product is transported back to be sold in all areas, and abroad on occasion, through the Morak crossing, he said.

The crossing, located at the entrance to rural Hama, has been under Tahrir al-Sham control for some time. It leads to regime-controlled areas.

Stone-cutting mill owners are trying to reach an agreement with Tahrir al-Sham that satisfies the workers, "who are the most affected by the increase", Assaf said.

Taxes imposed on consumer goods, agricultural products and fuel have become the primary source of income for Tahrir al-Sham following a decline in external support.

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