Foreign fighters petition for Syrian citizenship amid post-war uncertainty

Saturday 16 August 2025 - 17:40

A group of foreign fighters who participated in Syria’s civil war has petitioned the new Islamist-led government in Damascus to grant them Syrian citizenship, arguing that their contributions during the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad last December justify the request.

The petition, submitted to the Ministry of Interior, claims that foreigners who fought alongside the rebels should have the right to settle, own property, and travel freely. “We shared bread, we shared pain, and we shared hope for a free and just future for Syria… Yet for us, the muhajirine (foreign fighters), our status remains uncertain,” the document reads.

Bilal Abdel Karim, an American former comedian turned war journalist, is a prominent figure among the petitioners and said the initiative seeks to assist thousands of foreign fighters from over a dozen countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Maldives, the UK, Germany, France, the US, Canada, Chechnya, and Xinjiang.

Granting citizenship, however, could complicate Syria’s relations with other states, as many countries are reluctant to repatriate individuals often considered extremists. The interim Syrian president, Ahmed el-Chareh, indicated after taking power that foreign fighters and their families “could” receive citizenship, though no public updates have been issued.

The issue highlights the complex challenges facing the new Syrian government, which is attempting to unify and rebuild a country devastated by years of conflict and sectarian violence.