2) Practical and Procedural Challenges
a. Establishing Residence and Family Links
Although the registration process was generally perceived as more accessible than previous
initiatives, some applicants faced difficulties obtaining documentation required to prove
residence or family relationships, particularly where displacement or conflict-related
document loss had occurred. Decades of incomplete civil registration have also complicated
efforts to establish family lineage and legal family ties, especially in households that include
members classified under different legal categories, such as Hasakah Foreigners (Ajanib alHasakah) and Unregistered Persons (Maktoumeen al-Qayd).
b. Persons Residing Outside Syria
The situation of Syrians living outside Syria emerged as one of the most significant concerns
raised during interviews and field monitoring. Several participants reported that current
procedures require applicants to appear in person at registration centres in Syria, creating a
substantial barrier for thousands of individuals residing in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,
Türkiye, Europe, and elsewhere.
In this context, Dilovan Berazi, who resides in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and travelled to
Syria to submit his application, explained:
“I have no information about when the final interview will take place, nor do I
know how long I will need to remain in Syria. This could put my job at risk.”
Interviewees highlighted how travel costs, difficulties entering Syria, and obligations related
to employment or legal residency in host countries have limited the ability of many
individuals to benefit from the current process. Some also expressed concern that travelling
to Syria to complete the procedures could jeopardize their ability to return to their country
of residence or resume their employment.
In this context, Sherko Mousa noted:
“My father lives in Türkiye and is afraid to return because he fears he may not be
able to leave again.”
These challenges highlight the need for more flexible arrangements that would allow Syrians
residing abroad to access registration procedures on an equal basis, in line with the decree’s
objective of resolving the situation of all eligible individuals.
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