The Syrian Future Movement followed with grave concern the reports circulating on social media on Monday, April 20, 2026, regarding electricity company employees disconnecting meters from the homes of several subscribers in Aleppo due to accumulated unpaid bills.
A recording shows a resident warning other residents who are behind on their payments to settle their accounts, indicating that the action has affected more than one home in the same area, in what appears to be a campaign to collect outstanding payments.
While no official clarification has yet been issued regarding the nature or scope of these actions, the Syrian Future Movement, while closely monitoring the situation, affirms the following:
First, its general position:
The Syrian Future Movement strongly condemns these practices, which lack even the most basic humanity and disregard the difficult living conditions faced by Syrian citizens.
We emphasize that disconnecting electricity meters from homes, especially amidst a crippling economic crisis and rising poverty levels, constitutes collective punishment that violates human dignity and the right to a decent life. We also reiterate that electricity is not a luxury commodity, but an essential and indispensable service. Depriving citizens of it due to accumulated bills—regardless of their ability to pay or the availability of alternative options—represents an uncivilized approach that contradicts the principles of a civil state based on social justice.
Secondly, based on previous positions:
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates these practices and reiterates its firm positions emphasizing the necessity of protecting citizens’ rights and providing them with basic services with dignity and justice. These positions have been published on its official website, most notably:
Our paper entitled “Building National Identity on the Foundations of Rights and Citizenship” (dated March 19, 2026): In it, we affirmed that building a modern state requires a radical reform of the entire legal system and a redefinition of the relationship between the state and the citizen on a solid foundation of rights and dignity, not on the foundations of political loyalty or financial ability.
Our statement welcoming the signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding for the Implementation of the Household Income, Expenditure, and Consumption Survey in Syria” (dated March 9, 2026): We welcomed the step of conducting the first comprehensive household survey since 2009, and emphasized that the lack of accurate data on living standards and basic household needs—including the ability to pay utility bills—has contributed to deepening the economic and social crisis and the adoption of inaccurate and unfair policies.
Our statement welcoming the “launch of work on the Comprehensive Health Insurance System in Syria” (dated April 15, 2026): We commended the announcement of this step aimed at expanding the scope of basic services and ensuring their accessibility to a wider segment of the population. We affirmed that health, electricity, and water are not commodities, but rather fundamental rights that must not be compromised under any circumstances, and that the state is obligated to provide them to all, especially the most vulnerable groups.
Third, Future Vision:
- The Syrian Future Movement views this unfortunate incident as a serious warning bell, cautioning against the dangers of sliding into exclusionary and punitive practices that reinforce the logic of a “guardian state” instead of a “serving state.”
- We believe that the method of removing electricity meters as a means of debt collection, without providing flexible payment plans or support programs for the most vulnerable groups, is a failed approach that past experiences have proven ineffective. It only contributes to fueling public resentment and deepening the gap between citizens and their state institutions.
- We emphasize that any genuine reform of the services system – including electricity – must be based on the principle of partnership and dialogue, not on threats and punishment.
Fourth, Recommendations:
The Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- We demand that the Ministry of Electricity and relevant authorities immediately halt the meter removal campaigns, reconsider the mechanisms for collecting outstanding payments, and adopt an approach based on awareness and dialogue instead of intimidation and punishment.
- Working to launch suitable installment programs for overdue bills, while exempting the poorest families and the most affected groups (displaced persons, returnees, and families of martyrs) from interest and penalties, and establishing a minimum level of free or heavily subsidized consumption to ensure a decent life for every citizen.
- Organizing a comprehensive awareness campaign to explain to citizens the importance of paying bills for the sustainability of services, while clearly and transparently announcing the mechanisms for calculating tariffs and the reasons for any future increases.
- Accelerating the implementation of prepaid meter installation plans (smart cards), which prevent debt accumulation and improve collection, while ensuring the availability of widespread and easily accessible points of sale at reasonable prices, and allocating a toll-free number to receive complaints and inquiries around the clock.
- Working to restructure electricity subsidies in a way that protects the poor and middle classes, and gradually moving towards targeted subsidies instead of the current indiscriminate subsidies that consume the budget without reaching those who need them.
The Syrian Future Movement reaffirms its commitment to defending citizens’ rights to access basic services with dignity and justice. We also reiterate that a state’s strength is not measured by its capacity for punishment, but by its ability to provide a dignified life for its citizens.
We call upon all relevant parties to transform this crisis into an opportunity to rebuild trust between citizens and the state by adopting policies that consider humanitarian needs and establish a genuine partnership.
