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Syrian Returnee Barred from Traveling over 2014 Court Rulings
A document has revealed that Syrian citizen Hashem Khayat was barred from leaving the country after being informed that two court rulings had been issued against him in 2014. He was referred to the Ministry of Interior in Damascus for review.
The document, titled “Written Notice to Appear,” states that the travel ban is linked to a report requiring him to meet with the relevant authorities and resolve the matter before being allowed to leave. The date shown on the document is October 24, 2026.
Khayat told *Zaman al-Wasl* that he returned to Syria after spending years abroad. He said he left his university studies and family in 2011 to join the Syrian revolution, and remained under siege in the Old City of Homs until the siege ended.
According to Khayat, upon arriving at the airport, he was referred to the officer responsible for airport security and questioned for about 45 minutes. During the questioning, he was asked why he was wanted by the Air Force Intelligence branch in Homs. He replied that he had opposed the former regime.
Khayat said that at the end of the questioning, he was given a notice barring him from traveling until he reported to the Ministry of Interior in Damascus. He expressed surprise that the measure was still in effect, despite two years having passed since the liberation.
The incident raises questions about the status of reports and procedures dating back to the former regime, and which authorities are responsible for reviewing and resolving them—particularly in cases involving people previously pursued for opposing the regime.
