Canadian-owned company accused of supplying Syria’s chemical weapons program | 24CA News

A household business owned by Canadians, MHD Nazier Houranieh & Sons Co. calls itself a pioneer within the world metals commerce.

European governments describe it extra ominously: a provider for Syria’s chemical weapons program.

Working from Damascus and Beirut, the corporate is accused of importing supplies used to provide “chemical weapons delivery systems.”

According to the allegations, the agency purchases metals and alloys from overseas suppliers for the department of Syria’s chemical warfare division that manufactures missiles.

It additionally allegedly tried to acquire the aeronautical-grade aluminum and metal that goes into Fateh-110s, Iranian ballistic missiles utilized by the Syrian regime and that Russia reportedly needs.

The allegations have landed the corporate and its house owners, Chadi and Mohammad Houranieh, on European sanctions lists.

Their shipments have been seized in three nations, their property have been frozen, and they’re banned from travelling to Europe.

The Houraniehs are the one Canadian residents sanctioned by the European Union, other than a Hezbollah bomber from Vancouver who blew up a bus in Bulgaria.

But in interviews with Global News, Chadi Houranieh known as the allegations “absurd.”

While he as soon as did business with Syria, he stated it was unrelated to weapons.

“I have nothing to do with any chemical program.”

Houranieh, 44, grew up in Mississauga, in a home close to the Sheridan Mall. He went to Toronto Blue Jays video games at what was then known as SkyDome.

“I personally love it,” he stated of Canada.

He wished to remain, however after learning on the University of Miami, he returned to Damascus to assist with the household business.

Founded in 1949, Houranieh & Sons imports sheeting, piping and different steel merchandise it purchases from Canada, Europe and China. It calls itself one of many largest world metals merchants.

“When you work in the metal industry, you’re literally involved with everybody,” Houanieh stated. “So someone’s making a new factory, they need some sort of metal. Restaurants, their kitchens are always stainless steel. Decorations for homes and stuff like that. So it’s really nice.”

“You’re involved with a lot of people. I’ve always enjoyed it.”

The shoppers of Houranieh & Sons included the Syrian authorities and specifically, its Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC).

Despite its bland title, the SSRC was uncovered in 2005 as a entrance for the event of chemical weapons, which Syria began producing after dropping a 1973 battle with Israel.

A Canadian Security Intelligence Service report obtained by Global News report stated the SSRC was “responsible for developing and producing chemical and biological weapons.”

The Canada Border Services Agency reported that the SSRC was a part of the Syrian defence ministry and reported on to President Bashar al-Assad.

Houranieh insisted the SSRC was not only a navy company and had a hand in a big selection of civilian industries like agriculture and bread factories.

He acknowledged his firm bought the SSRC small quantities of aluminum and metal. The greatest contract was not more than US$120,000, he stated. But the merchandise had been all commercially out there and he was not a big provider, he stated.

“We’ve never dealt with anything that was illegal.”

He stated he was by no means requested to amass metals for weapons and wouldn’t have performed so if he knew that was the intent.

“If I find out that anything I’m going to be a part of has anything to do with hurting or destroying other people, I don’t want a part of it,” he stated.

As Assad continued to make use of chemical weapons to kill his personal folks to quell the revolt that emerged from the Arab Spring, the United Nations launched an effort to dismantle his program.

Western nations, in the meantime, used sanctions to chop his regime off from the supplies required to provide them, and France went after what it alleged was one of many SSRC’s suppliers.

But did it get the fitting one?

In February 2017, 53 tons of aluminum the Houraniehs had ordered from an Egyptian provider had been seized on the port of Beirut.

Houranieh stated Lebanese intelligence known as him in and stated he had two choices: go to jail or signal an announcement promising to not import the metals to Syria.

The container was despatched again to sea and later seized in Romania, in line with the information.

France alleged the cargo was on its technique to Institute 4000, the wing of the SSRC accountable for missile manufacturing.

“I really don’t know what to say about that,” Houranieh responded, insisting the cargo was not going to any authorities company.

That September, Houranieh & Sons took steps to amass 17,000 tonnes of aluminum and metal wanted for Fateh-110 missiles and rocket engines, France additional alleged.

Iran has been broadly reported to be sending its Fateh-110s to Syria, Hezbollah and presumably Russia to be used towards Ukraine.

“I’m just shocked,” Houranieh responded.

He stated that whereas “I’m sure there’s a lot of things I don’t know,” he was by no means requested to provide metals for Fateh-110 missiles.

The alleged incidents coincided with rising considerations about chemical assaults. On April 4, 2017, Assad’s forces fired rockets loaded with the nerve agent sarin into rebel-held Khan Sheikhoun, killing 90.

The U.S. responded by firing cruise missiles on the Syrian air base used to conduct the assault and sanctioning 271 SSRC workers.

In January 2018, France sanctioned Houranieh & Sons on the grounds it was utilizing Paris financial institution accounts to assist Assad’s chemical program.

According to the French allegations, the corporate was a part of a trio of associated companies owned by the Houraniehs and their cousin.

The so-called Houranieh Group “uses the proceeds of financial investments made in France to finance its contribution to the proliferation of chemical weapons,” France alleged.

Houranieh & Sons “supplies the SSRC with materials used in the manufacture of weapon delivery systems chemicals,” the French sanctions proceed.

“Therefore, MHD Nazier Houranieh & Sons Co provides material support for the manufacture of chemical weapons and participates in preparations for the use of chemical weapons, thereby contributing to the persistent threat posed by the proliferation and use of chemical weapons.”

Houranieh had no thought his property had been frozen till a good friend heard about it on the news. At first, he didn’t imagine it, after which he acquired a letter from the French finance ministry.

“To tell you the truth, I was really shocked,” he stated.

He stated he was by no means warned he is perhaps serving to to arm Assad with chemical weapons. Instead, he maintained that he was simply sanctioned and requested to show his innocence.

“At no level was I advised that ‘this is going for a ballistic program, this is going for a chemical program,’” he said.

“And I can’t even inform you, sure, it was. In my opinion, it wasn’t, however once more I’m not an skilled. I don’t know. Let’s say I’ll depart the door open to that.”

Houranieh stated he would by no means knowingly participate in something unlawful or immoral, and what his clients did with the metals they bought was not even his concern.

“If a client tells me what they want to use it for, we’ll gladly help. If he doesn’t say anything, I don’t ask anything, honestly,” he stated.

Holding him chargeable for the end-use of metals could be akin to blaming an auto supplier for promoting a automotive utilized in a bombing, he stated.

“Morally, it’s not my responsibility.”

No proof was ever supplied to again up the allegations, he stated. He opened his books and introduced in auditors, however they discovered nothing untoward, he stated.

He wished the considerations had been dealt with in a different way.

“We all make mistakes in this world, so when someone makes a mistake, come point it out,” he stated. “I’m not even saying I made a mistake, but let’s say that I did make a mistake, come point it out, show it to me, prove it to me.”

After they had been sanctioned, the Houraniehs lower themselves off from the Syrian authorities, which accounted for about 10 per cent of their firm’s business, he stated.

“We got the message.”

But in line with France, after the sanctions had been imposed, “the Houranieh Group has continued its activities for the benefit of the Syrian regime and the SSRC.”

Mohammad Houranieh allegedly met with members of Institute 4000 “to find new ways of supply,” France alleged.

Since 2019, he has continued to have “exchanges” with a person “known for his role as an intermediary of the SSRC in the supply of electrical and electronic equipment in Syria.”

Chadi Houranieh, in the meantime, “continues to maintain exchanges with Institute 2000 (the SSRC mechanical wing) and the SSRC acquisitions department,” the French alleged.

Not true, Houranieh insisted.

The Paris courts have agreed, discovering the French authorities had not produced proof the Houraniehs had carried on their relationship with the Assad regime after January 2018.

But the corporate stays listed in France, and final November, the sanctions had been expanded to all of Europe.

The European Union sanctioned the corporate, in addition to Houranieh and his brother individually, in response to the “continued threat posed by the proliferation and use of chemical weapons.”

The firm “supplies the … SSRC with materials used to produce chemical weapons delivery systems,” the EU alleged.

The measures had been a response to Russia’s poisoning of opposition chief Alexei Navalny and Syria’s failure to respect the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The SSRC is on Canada’s sanctions listing beneath its French title Centre D’Etudes et de Recherches Scientifiques. The Houraniehs aren’t, though the EU sanctions have seemingly made them pariahs to Canadian banks, which might not cope with them both as a result of they’ve branches in Europe or just to void the danger.

Global Affairs Canada declined to touch upon the corporate however stated its sanctions program prohibited importing, buying, buying or carrying “any goods related to chemical weapons from or in Syria.”

Canada “calls on Syria to fully declare its chemical weapons program and enter into compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention,” stated spokesperson Jason Kung.

The EU stated solely that it “regularly reviews its restrictive measures with a view to ensuring that they continue to be fully grounded and contribute towards achieving their stated objectives.”

The French Embassy in Ottawa didn’t reply to a request for remark.

“There is not one piece of evidence that points the fingers at us, not me or my cousins,” Houranieh countered.

Whether geared toward Syria, Iran or Russia, sanctions have exploded.

Since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, Canada’s sanctions listing has grown to 96 pages, with a gradual circulate of latest bulletins, usually by the prime minister himself.

Governments see sanctions as a helpful financial instrument that may have an effect with out resorting to armed battle, stated Jessica Davis, a former Canadian intelligence analyst and president of Insight Threat Intelligence.

Sanctions have “hard impacts” on their targets, just like the denial of economic providers, and “soft impacts,” notably that when a Google search brings up severe allegations, firms turn into pariahs, she stated.

In the sanctions age, the concept firms can do business with no thought to the attainable penalties has turn into outdated, she stated.

But she stated sanctions might be misapplied and difficult them might be troublesome and dear. “So there are plenty of concerns around the use of sanctions.”

Being the goal of sanctions has left Houranieh struggling to maintain afloat, he stated. Clients again off as quickly as they discover out in regards to the allegations of involvement in chemical weapons. They inform him they will’t work with terrorists or regime insiders.

Banks gained’t cope with them. His children hear about it from their mates. His closest mates are sympathetic but in addition cautious about being related to him.

“I honestly can’t believe how mad this world has gone,” he stated.

His legal professionals have appealed in France. He has not fought the EU sanctions. He known as himself a sufferer of defective intelligence and a authorities’s try and display it was taking motion.

He was optimistic he would clear his title however stated it was arduous to take being labelled a provider for a chemical weapons program.

“It’s just devastating, especially for a Canadian.”

Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca