In reference to recent reports in some media outlets and social media platforms
concerning a lawsuit filed in the United States and the mention of Mr. Mustafa Sabbagh
within that context, the Syrian Forum wishes to clarify the following to the public and
its partners:
- While the Syrian Forum is not a defendant in the case against Mr. Mustafa Sabbagh,
it takes the allegations made very seriously and categorically denies any
involvement in the conduct at issue. Moreover, it is important to note that no
individual other than the claimant has alleged that the Syrian Forum or any of its
officers or employees was involved in any fraudulent or improper activity of the
nature alleged. - Since its establishment, the Syrian Forum has maintained a strict and complete
separation between its developmental, humanitarian, research, and advocacy work
and Mr. Sabbagh’s private business activities, in order to avoid any conflict of
interest. - Mr. Sabbagh has never been authorized to sign on behalf of any of the Forum’s bank
accounts and has not participated in any operational or strategic decisions.
Furthermore, he has not held any executive, financial, or administrative role within
the Syrian Forum for the past three years. - Since 2015, Mr. Sabbagh has not made any financial donations to the Syrian Forum.
- Mr. Sabbagh has had no official or unofficial affiliation with the Syrian Forum since
April 27, 2024. This decision was made following a thorough internal review and
with the full agreement of the Board of Directors and executive leadership, in order
to safeguard the Forum’s independence and protect its institutional reputation. - We affirm that the Syrian Business Forum, chaired by Mr. Sabbagh and based in
Doha, is a completely separate legal entity and has no legal, financial, or institutional
relationship with the Syrian Forum in Turkey or the United States. - The Syrian Forum bears no legal or institutional responsibility for any alleged
misconduct related to Mr. Sabbagh or his private activities. The decision to sever
ties with him was made officially and definitively as soon as the potential risks of
continued association were recognized, in accordance with best practices in
governance and institutional duty of care. - All financial and administrative operations of the Syrian Forum are subject to
regular review by independent external audit firms, as well as oversight by the
relevant authorities in Turkey, ensuring full adherence to principles of transparency
and integrity. - Regarding the mention of Mr. Ghassan Hitto, CEO of the Syrian Forum, and Mr.
Yasser Tabbara, member of the Board of Directors, in connection with the
referenced case, Mr. Hitto and Mr. Tabbara categorically deny the allegations
against them. They had no knowledge of Mr. Sabbagh’s alleged fraudulent activity
or other alleged unlawful conduct. As a result of Mr. Sabbagh’s alleged actions, both
suffered direct financial losses to their personal savings, which they invested in good
faith with Mr. Sabbagh in private business ventures wholly unrelated to the Syrian
Forum or its activities.
Thanks to the dedication of its staff and the integrity of its work, the Syrian Forum
has built a professional and impactful presence in both Syrian and international
arenas, driven by its commitment to serve the Syrian people and support their
aspirations. We regret any attempts to implicate the Forum in matters unrelated
to it or to tarnish its reputation and that of its dedicated team.
The Syrian Forum remains committed to the highest standards of institutional
professionalism and will respond to smear campaigns not through public disputes,
but through serious work, credibility, and results recognized by our partners and
the public.
Syrian Forum
June 29, 2025
