The European Unions top court has upheld an asset freeze for a cousin of the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, saying the European Union had shown him to be linked to the regime. In 2011, the EU included businessman Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of Assad, on a list of people to be hit with asset freezes and a travel ban because of the regimes actions in the countrys civil war. Makhlouf had fought the asset freeze for the period of May 29, 2016 to May 31, 2017 at the EUs General Court, which rejected his claim. He later appealed that decision. "The Court dismisses Mr. Makhloufs appeal and thus confirms that the restrictive measures against him must be maintained for the period 2016-2017," the European Court of Justice said Thursday. It added the EU had shown him to be associated with and providing support for the Syrian regime.