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Foreign Fighters in Syria Demand Syrian Citizenship
Foreign fighters, along with other individuals of foreign nationality involved in the Syrian civil war, have submitted official requests to the new Syrian government led by Islamists, demanding Syrian citizenship. They claim to have obtained it after coming to power with opposition factions that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The fate of these foreign fighters raises increasing concerns, especially as few countries are willing to repatriate their citizens, who are often viewed as extremists. A large segment of the Syrian population also fears their presence.
Many of these fighters and their families, as well as relief workers and journalists who joined them, face the issue of lacking valid personal identification documents, with some having their original nationalities stripped. This places them at risk of sanctions, imprisonment, or even execution in their home countries.
Granting these fighters Syrian citizenship could create tensions with local populations and foreign states, as the new government strives to garner support, particularly amid efforts to unify and rebuild the country following extensive destruction caused by years of conflict and sectarian violence.
In a petition submitted to the Syrian Interior Ministry on Thursday and seen by Reuters, the applicants called for granting foreigners Syrian citizenship to enable them to settle, own land, and travel freely.
The petition stated:
_"We contributed to sacrifices, shared bread, sorrows, and hope for a free and just Syria’s future. Yet, our status remains uncertain as migrants."_
Among the signatories is American comedian Bilal Abdel Karim, who has been living in Syria since 2012, and who has also been diagnosed with war-related illnesses. He, along with others, is calling on the Syrian leadership to grant full Syrian nationality and passports.
In an interview with Reuters, Abdel Karim confirmed that thousands of foreigners from over 12 countries have signed the petition, including Egyptians, Saudis, Lebanese, Pakistanis, Indonesians, Maldivians, as well as Britons, Germans, French, Americans, Canadians, Chechens, and Uighurs.
While no official figure has been confirmed for the number of signatories, sources suggest supporters from various nationalities, including a Briton, a Uighur, and a French national.
The Syrian Interior Ministry’s spokesperson stated that the issue of granting nationality to foreigners is subject to a final decision by the Syrian presidency, and officials have not yet issued an official comment.
Amid recent developments, interim President Ahmad Shalabi, former head of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, indicated that fighters and their families might have the right to acquire Syrian citizenship. However, no official procedures have been announced yet.
Some Syrians warn that granting citizenship to foreign fighters could increase risks of extremism, especially given previous accusations of participation in violence against religious minorities, including Alawites and Druze, heightening local community fears about the presence of these fighters in the country.
In the context of the situation, Syrian coastal areas—sites of bloody violence—have seen widespread participation of foreign fighters from various backgrounds. Some are accused of involvement in killings against religious minorities, although investigations suggest local Syrian factions were primarily responsible.
During the years of war, thousands of foreigners, mostly Sunnis, joined various armed groups. Some have built reputations as fierce fighters involved in security operations and established families inside Syria.
Some among them express a desire to build a new life. One Uighur fighter, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I want to live a normal life in a new Syria. I have a young child who needs to go to school, and I am thinking about his future away from the battlefield."
British relief worker Taqir Sharif, who has been living in Syria since 2012, stated that those contributing to Syrian society deserve citizenship.
Source: Reuters
