Foreign fighters, aid workers and journalists who travelled to Syria during the 2011 uprising are appealing for Syrian citizenship, saying their lack of legal status denies them basic rights despite years of sacrifice and integration into society.
A petition was submitted to the Interior Ministry on August 14 by American-born journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem, who has lived in Syria since 2012. It seeks to secure citizenship for thousands of “Muhajireen” – foreigners who came to Syria over the past decade as fighters, doctors, teachers, aid workers, and media professionals.
The letter, addressed to the government in Damascus, appeals to Syria’s leadership as “brothers in Islam” and calls for recognition of their contribution to the revolution and its aftermath.
“We shared bread, we shared sorrow, and we shared in the hope for a free and just future for Syria,” the petition states. “Yet for us, the Muhajireen, our status remains uncertain.”
A decade of service
The signatories argue that many of them responded to the Syrian people’s call for help in 2011 when mass protests against Bashar al-Assad’s regime escalated into civil war. They say they contributed across multiple fields, from military defence and security to medicine, education, humanitarian relief, and journalism.
“Some of us have married into Syrian families, raised children in Syrian homes, and made this land our home,” the petition continues.
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“Despite this, we remain without citizenship or the rights it affords. We cannot travel freely outside the country, own property under our names, or fully enjoy the rights afforded to citizens of a country.”
Bilal Abdul Kareem, who has reported extensively from Syria, told local media that for Syrian nationals’ documentation is a formality, but for foreign residents it is urgent. “Without citizenship we cannot own property, we cannot travel, and in some cases even our children’s education is at risk,” he said.
Supporters of the petition argue that granting citizenship would also place the Muhajireen fully under Syrian law, ensuring accountability and ending the ambiguity surrounding their legal status.
Government response
There has been no official response from the Syrian government to the petition so far. However, the presidency is expected to make a final decision on whether to extend citizenship or not.
In December 2024, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa suggested that naturalisation of foreigners was a “feasible option,” noting that in many countries permanent residence after several years is sufficient grounds for citizenship. He also acknowledged that many of the immigrants “share the values and ideology of the Syrian people, making integration into society plausible.”
However, the proposal has stirred mixed feelings within Syria. Some citizens fear that certain immigrants may prioritise broader pan-Islamic objectives over Syrian national identity. These concerns are rooted in the violence of the civil war, when some foreign fighters were accused of involvement in sectarian killings.
It is also true that a number of the Muhajireen fought within factions later designated as terrorist organisations by international powers. This history has added to local suspicions and explains why many Syrians remain cautious about granting citizenship on a large scale.
Nevertheless, the petitioners insist they are not outsiders. “We are neither guests nor passers-by,” the letter stresses. Many argue that their long residence, intermarriage with Syrians, and shared struggles already demonstrate deep integration. Their children were born and raised in Syria, their livelihoods are tied to the land, and their futures are bound to that of the wider Syrian population.
Statelessness and survival
For many of the foreign residents, the absence of legal recognition means daily hardships. Some have lost their original nationality, while others face prison or execution if they return home. Without Syrian documentation, they cannot legally own property, secure education for their children, or move freely beyond the country’s borders.
“This is not about privilege but about survival,” the petition says. “We respectfully request that the Syrian leadership, with wisdom, foresight and brotherhood, grant us full Syrian citizenship and the right to hold a Syrian passport.”
The decision now lies with Damascus, which raises sensitive questions about national identity, security and international relations.
