Haj Fadel Al-Aboud, who was the mayor of Deir al-Zour, provided them with food and housing, and means of livelihood and security. The Armenians returned the favor to Al-Aboud when the French colonialism sentenced him to death in Aleppo, where they supported and defended him, which led the French to abolish the death penalty and only exile him to Jisr al-Shughur.[11]