The Syrian transitional government has announced the start of a registration process for Kurdish citizens. From April 6, those affected will be able to officially register their data. The registration is based on a decree; the aim is to include people without official identity documents in state records and thereby create the basis for further legal steps.
Several centers have been established nationwide for applications. These are located, among other places, in Heseke, Dirbesiye, Qamishlo, Chilaxa and Derik, as well as in Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa and Damascus. In many cases, local administrative structures are involved in the implementation. The process is divided into two phases. In the first step, applications are received and submitted documents are reviewed. This phase serves as preparation for possible later procedures to obtain citizenship.
The measure goes back to a decree dated January 16, in which the transitional government stated that Kurds are recognized as an integral part of Syrian society. At the same time, it said that their cultural and linguistic identity is part of Syria’s national unity. With the census of 1962 in Heseke, more than 120,000 Kurds were stripped of Syrian citizenship and declared foreigners. Since then, the number of Kurds without an official identity has risen to more than 350,000.
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