Syria issues procedures to grant citizenship to “unregistered” Kurds
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Ministry of Interior issued on Friday Decision No. 144/M, outlining executive procedures for granting Syrian citizenship to Kurdish “unregistered” (Maktoumeen) individuals covered by Legislative Decree No. 13 of 2026.
The issue dates back to the one-day census conducted in Hasakah Governorate on Oct. 5, 1962, under former President Nazem al-Qudsi, after which thousands of Kurds were stripped of their civil rights.
For decades, many have lived without legal identity or access to basic rights, making the case one of Syria’s most enduring human rights concerns.
The ministry said the decision is based on Decree No. 13 of 2026 and constitutional principles guaranteeing equal citizenship.
It aims to regularize the legal status of affected Kurdish citizens, promote social stability, and strengthen national integration.
Under the decision, eligible individuals must submit either individual or family applications at designated centers. Required documents include a certificate issued by the local mukhtar, proof of residence, and official documents confirming presence in Syria, such as utility bills or school registration records.
Application centers have been established in Damascus, Aleppo, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and five centers in Hasakah. A 30-working-day deadline for submissions will begin once committees start operating, with the possibility of extension.
Each center will form a committee headed by a judge to review applications, conduct interviews, collect biometric data, and forward files to provincial subcommittees.
A central committee at the Ministry of Interior will oversee the process, review appeals, and submit final approved lists to the minister for ratification.
Applicants may file objections within 15 days, and final decisions can be challenged before administrative courts. Accepted names will be entered into civil registry records after all appeals are concluded.
The decision takes effect upon publication in the Official Gazette.