Thousands apply for citizenship in Qamishlo, Derik, Çil Agha as deadline nears

Registration committees in the Jazira region continue to receive applications from Kurdish residents in the cities of Qamishlo, Derik and Çil Agha as part of the implementation of Decree No. 13, issued by the Syrian Interim Government earlier this year.

In Qamishlo, applications are being received at the designated center located at the Martyrs of March 12 Stadium in the city center, where more than 3,000 individuals have registered, in addition to around 1,290 families. A relative decline in turnout has been observed in recent days, following a peak at the start of the registration process.

In Derik, the civil registry center has received individual applications from approximately 2,000 people, along with around 500 families, with registration continuing for the fifth consecutive week.

In Çil Agha, the civil registry center had received applications from 243 families and 515 individuals as of April 24, while the responsible committee declined to disclose the total number of applicants to date.

According to officials overseeing the process, tomorrow is scheduled as the final day for submitting applications, with the possibility of extending the deadline if necessary to ensure that all eligible individuals are registered and no cases are left unresolved. A final decision will be made at the close of the submission period.

The procedures also cover members of the Kurdish diaspora abroad, allowing a first-degree relative (father, mother, brother, or eldest sister) to apply on behalf of the expatriate, whose status will be recorded as “abroad,” with further procedures to be completed later in Damascus through a permanent committee dedicated to registering unregistered individuals.

The registration process takes place in two main stages: the first involves recording names and personal data, followed by an interview and verification stage, in a step aimed at expediting citizenship grants and ensuring beneficiaries obtain their full civil rights.

On January 16, 2026, the head of the Syrian Interim Government issued Decree No. 13 granting Syrian citizenship to Kurdish residents classified as unregistered, following years of demands and advocacy.

The roots of this issue date back to the exceptional census conducted in Hasakah province on October 5, 1962, during which records were reviewed in a single day, resulting in the deprivation of large numbers of Kurdish residents of Syrian citizenship. Estimates indicate that more than 500,000 people, including unregistered individuals, have been affected.

A-H

ANHA