MHD Nazier Houranieh & Sons Co., a Canadian family-owned business, proudly positions itself as a pioneer in the global metals trade. However, European governments have accused the company of being a supplier for Syria’s chemical weapons program. Working from Damascus and Beirut, the company allegedly imports materials used in the production of chemical weapons delivery systems. These allegations have resulted in the company and its owners, Chadi and Mohammad Houranieh, being subjected to European sanctions. Their shipments have been seized, assets frozen, and they are banned from travel to Europe.
Chadi Houranieh, in an interview with Global News, vehemently denies these allegations, referring to them as “absurd.” While acknowledging that his company has done business with Syria in the past, he insists that it was unrelated to weapons. He claims to have nothing to do with any chemical program.
Houranieh & Sons is a prominent importer of sheeting, piping, and other metal products from various countries around the world. The Syrian government, particularly its Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC), has been among their clients. The SSRC, despite its seemingly benign name, was revealed in 2005 to be involved in the development and production of chemical and biological weapons.
Houranieh admits to selling small amounts of aluminum and steel to the SSRC, but asserts that these were commercially available products and that he was not a significant supplier. He affirms that he would never knowingly support the production of weapons, stating he would distance himself from any activity that harms or destroys others.
The allegations against Houranieh & Sons coincide with increasing concerns about chemical attacks in Syria. In light of these concerns, the United Nations and Western countries have been working to dismantle Syria’s chemical weapons program. Sanctions have been imposed to cut off the regime from necessary materials. France has targeted Houranieh & Sons, accusing them of aiding Assad’s chemical program through the use of Paris bank accounts.
Houranieh maintains that he was unaware of his frozen assets and says he was never warned that he might be involved in arming Assad with chemical weapons. He asserts his innocence and wishes that the concerns had been handled differently. To him, holding his company responsible for the end-use of the metals they sell would be akin to blaming an auto dealer for selling a car used in a bombing.
Despite the accusations, no evidence has been provided to substantiate the claims against Houranieh & Sons. The company has undergone audits, which have found no wrongdoing. Houranieh invites critics to point out any mistakes and substantiate their claims. He believes that open dialogue and transparency are key to resolving any concerns.
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