Syria's Kurds Register for Citizenship After Decades of Statelessness
Thousands of stateless Kurds in Syria have begun registering for citizenship following a January decree by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This historic move addresses the marginalization of approximately 150,000 individuals stripped of their nationality during a controversial 1962 census. Registration centers, such as the one in Qamishli’s sports stadium, are processing applications from residents who previously lacked legal recognition, preventing them from owning property, accessing education, or traveling. The decree also recognizes Kurdish as a national language and enshrines cultural rights. This development follows recent clashes between Kurdish fighters and government forces, culminating in an agreement to integrate the Kurdish administration into the central state. Key steps included government forces entering Hasakeh and Qamishli and the appointment of Kurdish leader Sipan Hamo as assistant defense minister. While authorities plan to keep centers open for a month, advocates urge flexibility for refugees abroad. For many applicants, gaining citizenship ends decades of exclusion, allowing them to finally register births, marriages, and properties, thereby restoring their legal existence and civil rights within Syria.
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Syria's Kurds Register for Citizenship After Decades of Statelessness
Thousands of stateless Kurds in Syria have begun registering for citizenship following a January decree by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This historic move addresses the marginalization of approximately 150,000 individuals stripped of their nationality during a controversial 1962 census. Registration centers, such as the one in Qamishli’s sports stadium, are processing applications from residents who previously lacked legal recognition, preventing them from owning property, accessing education, or traveling. The decree also recognizes Kurdish as a national language and enshrines cultural rights. This development follows recent clashes between Kurdish fighters and government forces, culminating in an agreement to integrate the Kurdish administration into the central state. Key steps included government forces entering Hasakeh and Qamishli and the appointment of Kurdish leader Sipan Hamo as assistant defense minister. While authorities plan to keep centers open for a month, advocates urge flexibility for refugees abroad. For many applicants, gaining citizenship ends decades of exclusion, allowing them to finally register births, marriages, and properties, thereby restoring their legal existence and civil rights within Syria.
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