The Ministry of Endowments denies the authenticity of a leaked document about a request to buy cars for$1.85 million
The Ministry of Awqaf denied the validity of what is being circulated on social media about the purchase of new cars, stressing that these campaigns come in the context of "attempts to question its role, at a time when it continues to perform its religious duty and reform the religious reality."
The official spokesman of the Ministry of Awqaf, Ahmed Al-Hallaq, explained on Tuesday (April 28th) that the ministry "has not purchased any cars to date", noting that a large number of workers rely on their own cars, despite the expansion of its work to more than 90 directorates, departments and divisions in various governorates.
He added that the mechanisms will be secured when needed and according to the available capabilities, within the legal frameworks and the general budget, explaining that what was circulated was an unapproved formula, which was not approved, and was stopped about two weeks ago by a decision of the Minister of Endowments.
Purchase order sparks outrage among Syrians
Over the past two days, activists circulated a document issued by the Syrian Ministry of Awqaf that includes a request to buy cars with a total value of $2,850,500, which sparked indignation among Syrians.
Commentators criticized the order, which stipulates the purchase of 44 modern 2026 cars, including a 2026 GMS Tahoe for the minister, three Hyundai Palisade cars for assistants, and 40 Kia Sorento for managers.
According to commentators, the criticism came due to the difficult economic situation that the country is going through, considering that the purchase order does not take into account the situation of Syrians and their living conditions.
Leaked document dated February 26, 2026
The circulating document refers to an official request from the ministry to the "General Authority for Supply and Supply" on February 26 to purchase 44 vehicles of the 2026 model, at a cost of approximately $1.85 million, while some sources went on to raise the figure to about $1.89 million, and the document justifies the goal of the deal as "enabling department managers to perform their field duties."
The details contained in the document reveal that a Chevrolet Tahoe car was allocated to the Minister of Endowments, with reference in some circulating versions to an armored Toyota Land Cruiser with a value of up to $120,000, while the minister's assistants forged their names within the allocations of the "Hyundai Palisade" model, while the "Hyundai Palisade" and "Kia Sorento" cars were distributed to the directors of the departments.
Previous controversy over the convoy of the Minister of Awqaf
Photos and videos documenting the procession of the Minister of Awqaf in the city of Homs in mid-February 2026 caused a wide uproar on social media after a fleet of luxury cars appeared heading toinaugurate the new headquarters of the Homs Awqaf Directorate, in addition to the opening of the old mosque after its restoration work.
The ministry's spokesman, Ahmed Al-Hallaq, explained at the time that the convoy was not dedicated to Minister Mohammed Abu al-Khair Shukri alone, but was a joint procession that included a number of officials and legal figures, and according to the explanation, the governor of Homs, the commander of internal security, along with the director of the traffic branch, and directors of endowments from other governorates such as Hama and Tartous, in addition to the mufti of the province and a number of merchants and social figures who attended the event.
The ministry justified the size of the procession at the time by saying that all the guests and officials set off together from the new directorate building, which made the scene look like a single flotilla belonging to one party, even though – according to its version – it was a gathering of cars of several official bodies and invitees.