Correcting Kurds' national designation to "Syrian" in response to criticism

Tens of thousands of Kurds in Syria were stripped of their Syrian citizenship under an exceptional census conducted in Hasaka Governorate during the presidency of Nazim al-Qudsi on October 5, 1962. 

This unjust census classified thousands of Kurds as "foreigners" or "unregistered," depriving them of basic civil rights. They were barred from employment in the public sector, property ownership, and obtaining passports. This situation persisted for six decades, casting a long shadow over their lives for next generations.

Recently, on January 29th, 2026, the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Interim Government reached an agreement guaranteeing the rights of the Kurdish people and ensuring their civil and educational rights as an integral part of the Syrian component.

This followed the issuance of Decree No. (13) on January 16, 2026 by the head of the Syrian Interim Government, Ahmed al-Sharaa. This decree aimed to address the situation of Syrian Kurds who had been stripped of their citizenship or faced legal restrictions for decades, particularly those affected by the 1962 census in Hasaka, which resulted in thousands of citizens being classified as "foreigners of Hasaka" and "unregistered."

The decree stipulates granting Syrian citizenship to those covered by it, recognizing Kurds as an official national component, guaranteeing their equality in rights and duties, and affirming the recognition of their cultural and linguistic identity within the framework of the Syrian state.

The decree stipulates granting Syrian citizenship to those covered by it, recognizing the Kurds as an official national component, guaranteeing their equality in rights and duties, and affirming the recognition of their cultural and linguistic identity within the framework of the Syrian state.

In implementation of Decree No. (13), the Ministry of Interior announced the commencement of receiving applications for citizenship from unregistered members of the Kurdish people, starting April 6th, at several centers in the cities of the Jazira region, with applications continuing to be submitted.

However, the registration procedures sparked widespread controversy in political, cultural, and human rights circles after applicants were registered as "Syrian Arabs," which was considered contradictory to the content of the decree, which was intended to address the effects of previous policies related to Kurdish national identity and affiliation.

Following a wave of criticism, the registration centers amended the designation, registering applicants simply as "Syrian."

In this context, a source from inside the registration center at the March 12th Martyrs Stadium in Qamishlo told ANHA agency's correspondent that "The problem resulted from an error," stressing that it had been rectified.

Another source indicated that "the problem has been completely resolved, and the registration process is continuing normally."

ANHA