e. Classification of Some Kurdish Applicants as “Syrian Arabs” in Registration Forms Through its field monitoring of nationality application centres in al-Hasakah Governorate, the Network of Statelessness Victims in al-Hasakah (NSVH) documented repeated cases in which Kurdish applicants were recorded in official application forms as “Syrian Arabs” by employees of the Ministry of Interior of the Syrian Transitional Government. This occurred despite the fact that Decree No. 13 of 2026 recognizes Kurds as an integral and constituent component of the Syrian people, affirms the protection of their cultural and linguistic identity, and seeks to redress the consequences of the discriminatory policies associated with the 1962 Exceptional Census. The practice prompted concern, dissatisfaction, and objections among a number of applicants, who considered it inconsistent with the purpose of the Decree, namely to address the consequences of past discriminatory policies and measures and provide redress to those affected by them. Several affected persons also viewed the use of this classification as incompatible with the right of individuals to self-identify and to express their identity and sense of belonging freely. Following monitoring and advocacy efforts led by affected persons, including the Network of Statelessness Victims in al-Hasakah, the matter was raised with the relevant authorities. According to information documented during the preparation of this report, the use of this classification was discontinued and replaced with the designation “Syrian” in registration procedures and related documents. This helped alleviate concerns surrounding the issue and contributed to strengthening confidence in the implementation process. f. Limited Timeframe and Insufficient Public Awareness A number of participants noted that the period between the announcement of the registration process and the commencement of implementation was relatively short. This limited the ability of some individuals covered by the decree to arrange travel, obtain leave from work, or secure the required documentation, particularly those residing outside their areas of origin or outside Syria. Although the registration period was subsequently extended, some participants considered the timeframe insufficient and noted that it also constrained opportunities to conduct broader awareness-raising efforts on the procedures, requirements, and subsequent stages of the process. g. Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities Field observations indicated that some older persons and persons with disabilities faced additional barriers in accessing registration centres, including longer waiting times. Accommodations for vulnerable groups remained limited in some locations. While staff in certain centres made efforts to facilitate access, more systematic measures are needed to ensure services are delivered in a dignified and accessible manner. SYNERGY | contact@hevdesti.org | www.hevdesti.org Page 13 of 19