Reuters: Foreign Islamists petition Syrian state for citizenship

According to a Reuters report, the fighters—some of whom have committed massacres in various regions of Syria—appealed to the transitional government to grant them citizenship, arguing that they deserve it due to their contributions to the overthrow of the previous regime and the “sacrifices” they made during the war.

The official request was submitted to the Ministry of Interior, calling for citizenship so that these individuals could “settle, own property, and travel,” according to their statement.

The letter read: “We shared bread, sorrow, and hope for a free and just future for Syria… Yet for us, as migrants, our status remains uncertain.”

The signatories include fighters of multiple nationalities, such as Egyptians, Saudis, Lebanese, Pakistanis, Indonesians, and Maldivians, as well as Europeans including British, German, French, American, and Canadian citizens, in addition to individuals of Chechen and Uyghur origin.

One of the signatories told Reuters that thousands of foreigners from more than ten countries could benefit from this request, noting that some have already assumed military positions following the ouster of Assad in December last year.

Transitional Government Prime Minister Ahmad Al-Sharaa previously stated that the issue of granting citizenship to foreign fighters and their families is under review, hinting that this option may be considered at a later stage.

However, the move has raised concerns among many Syrians, who question the loyalty of these fighters and suspect that some pursue external agendas, while others have adopted extremist practices in recent years.

A Reuters investigation into the violence along Syria’s coast last March, which claimed over a thousand lives from the Alawite community, indicated that fighters of Uyghur, Uzbek, Chechen, and Arab origin participated in those attacks.

The agency noted that the transitional authorities, with the tacit approval of the United States, have already begun integrating some of these fighters into the new Syrian army, assigning them military and security roles.

Observers warn that granting citizenship to this group could trigger domestic backlash and may raise concerns among foreign states whose support the transitional government seeks in order to assist in the country’s reconstruction.

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ANHA