Syria’s Kurds line up for citizenship after decades stateless
Forms are filled as Syrian Kurds gather at a registration centre for foreign Kurds and unregistered residents in the city of al-Malikiyah Kadimah (Dêrik in Kurdish) northeastern Syria, on April 15, 2026, to submit their names for Syrian citizenship. In a packed hall in Qamishli's sports stadium in northeast Syria, dozens of Kurds on April 15, wait to apply for citizenship after many in the minority were barred from doing so for decades. Since last week, "unregistered" Kurds, who have been stateless since a controversial 1962 census, have been flocking to registration centres across Syria to apply for citizenship, based on the interior ministry's instructions. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP via Getty Images)
In northeast Syria, dozens of Kurds have gathered at registration centres to apply for citizenship, marking a historic shift after decades of statelessness, reports Asharq Al-Awsat via AFP on April 16th.
The move follows a recent decree by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa granting nationality to Kurds who were stripped of it in a controversial 1962 census.
At a crowded sports stadium in Qamishli, applicants queued with documents and photographs as officials processed their claims. For many, the opportunity represents long-awaited recognition.
“A person without citizenship is as good as dead,” said 49-year-old Firas Ahmad, who, like generations before him, has lived without official documentation.
The new policy is expected to affect around 150,000 people who remain unregistered, part of Syria’s broader Kurdish population of roughly two million.
In addition to granting citizenship, the decree recognises Kurdish cultural and language rights, formally acknowledging Kurdish as a national language.
For decades, stateless Kurds faced severe restrictions, including barriers to education, employment, travel and property ownership.
Galya Kalash, a mother of five, said her children were unable to complete their education due to their lack of legal status. “We suffered greatly,” she said, adding that even her family home remains unregistered.
The decision comes amid shifting political dynamics in the region. Following weeks of clashes, Kurdish authorities reached an agreement with the Syrian government to integrate their administration into the central state.
This has included the deployment of government forces to formerly Kurdish-controlled areas and the appointment of Kurdish officials to senior positions.
Authorities have announced that registration centres will remain open for at least a month, with the possibility of extension. Activists have urged the government to ensure flexibility for Kurds living abroad, many of whom are unable to return due to displacement or ongoing regional instability.
For applicants like Mohammed Ayo, the change represents more than legal recognition. After years of being excluded from basic rights, including higher education and political participation, he hopes citizenship will finally offer a sense of belonging.
Asharq Al-Awsat via AFP, Maghrebi.org
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