Syrian authorities release Jewish antiquities dealer, dismiss charges against him
Salim Hamadani, one of a handful of Jews remaining in the country, was falsely accused of illegal trading, activist says, held for 20 days
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLuke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.
Syrian authorities have released one of the country’s few remaining Jews, Salim Hamadani, several weeks after his arrest, a Jewish community activist said on Monday.
Hamadani, an antiquities dealer in Damascus, had been accused of illegal trading in antiquities.
Hamadani was released after 20 days in detention and all charges against him had been dismissed, said Joe Jajati, a Syria-born resident of New York who acts as a liaison between the Jewish community and the Syrian government.
“He got arrested because somebody snitched that he was selling stolen stuff, but he wasn’t and baruch Hashem it’s all good now,” Jajati told The Times of Israel on Monday.
Jajati, a friend of Hamadani who visited him while he was in detention, said on X on Sunday that Hamadani had been cleared of all charges and thanked the Syrian government for its “diligence, cooperation, and for ensuring a fair and transparent trial.”
Jajati added that the government showed Hamadani a “high standard of care, respect, and dignity” during his detention, and that the arrest was “not an act of prejudice.”
Justice has prevailed!! Truth has been found!! ????????????️????????
I am profoundly happy to share that my dear friend Salim Hamadani has been released and cleared of all accusations. After 20 days, the legal system has confirmed what we knew in our hearts: Salim is an innocent man.
I want… https://t.co/XdOUkd3IX8— Joe Jajati (@JoeJajati) December 28, 2025
Hamadani’s arrest came at a sensitive time, as the new Syrian government works to improve its international image, given concerns over its treatment of minorities.
Hamadani is one of five Jews thought to remain in Syria. Despite the community’s tiny size, Syrian Jewish expatriates in the US, including Jajati, have been working to build ties with the new government since it took power earlier this year.
The Syrian government has welcomed the interest from expat Syrian Jews as the country attempts to recover from its devastating civil war.
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