Naturalization of Foreign Fighters, Activists, and Their Families in Syria: The Need for a Careful Balancing of Multiple Considerations
Executive Summary:
This report addresses one of the most complex files of Syria’s transitional phase: the naturalization of foreign fighters, activists, and their families. It builds on a petition calling for naturalization and maps the challenges arising at the intersections of security, politics, and humanitarian considerations, while also examining the positions of regional and international actors and drawing lessons from comparative experiences, notably Bosnia and Ukraine.
The report concludes that absolute solution pathways—such as immediate comprehensive naturalization or, conversely, total rejection coupled with deportation—are unrealistic, politically and socially risky, and incompatible with Syrian societal values and reputation. Instead, it favors a settlement that combines gradualism toward sustainable solutions with the adoption of effective interim arrangements. This approach would remove all concerned individuals from legal limbo through the granting of temporary, regularized residency, followed by transparent individual assessments over a period ranging from two to five years, and the phased conferral of citizenship upon those who demonstrably meet security, conduct, and integration criteria.
The proposed pathway assigns absolute priority to children’s rights and the prevention of statelessness. It also suggests a targeted amendment to the nationality law enabling Syrian mothers to transmit their nationality in necessary cases. Furthermore, the report calls for sound governance of the process through an independent national committee, publicly available criteria, and transparent and fair procedures that include the right to complaint and appeal. These measures should be accompanied by internal dialogues that highlight success stories and reduce societal tensions, alongside external coordination that takes into account the interests and security concerns of regional and international actors.
To read the full report click here (Arabic)
باحث ومستشار، كتب و شارك في كتابة العديد من الأوراق المتعلقة بالملف السوري. كما عمل مستشاراً وباحثاً في الشأن السوري لدى عدة مراكز سياسات سورية ناشئة، ولدى منظمات دولية. مدرب في مجال أساسيات ريادة الأعمال وأساسيات التحليل السياسي،
