![Rami Makhlouf, a wealthy businessman and the cousin of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on 17 July 2020 [LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rami-Makhlouf.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
Syrian businessman and childhood friend of Syrian regime President Bashar Al-Assad, Rami Makhlouf, yesterday denied “rumours” about his death, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported.
On Facebook, Makhlouf wrote that “rumours” about his death are a “big orchestrated plot.” He pledged that it would later backfire.
Makhlouf is the first cousin of Al-Assad, and he was seen as a staunch supporter of the regime before being involved in a crisis with the regime in 2020.
“Mr President, security apparatus has started to infringe on people’s freedom. Those are your people, your supporters,” he said on 3 May 2020.
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