Syria's Interior Ministry has ordered immediate implementation of a decree granting citizenship to Kurds, including those listed as stateless, with a Feb. 5 deadline for rollout. President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently recognised Kurdish as a national language and announced a ceasefire with Kurdish forces. Government advances forced SDF withdrawals from cities such as Raqqa and Deir Az Zor, amid reports of civilian displacement and food shortages. Al-Sharaa met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow as Russia seeks to maintain a military presence following December 2024 political changes.
Syria Grants Citizenship To Kurds, Sets Feb 5 Rollout As Government Consolidates Gains
Members of Kurd-led Syrian Democratic Forces arrive in Kurdish-held city of Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobane, after their withdrawal from Raqqa [File: AFP]
Syria's Ministry of Interior has ordered the immediate implementation of a new decree granting citizenship to Kurdish residents, including those previously recorded as stateless, as government forces press a rapid offensive in the north and consolidate territory after clashes with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Interior Minister Anas Khattab signed the decision on Wednesday, instructing authorities to ensure the decree applies to all Kurds living in Syria, explicitly covering those listed as stateless, the Anadolu news agency reported, citing the Syrian television channel Alikhbariah.
The ministry has set a February 5 deadline to finalise administrative measures and begin the nationwide rollout of the directive.
Two weeks earlier, President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced formal recognition of Kurdish as one of Syria's national languages and declared the restoration of citizenship to Kurdish Syrians, releasing the announcement in tandem with a ceasefire between government forces and Kurdish units.
The government’s advance prompted SDF withdrawals from a number of cities, including Raqqa and Deir Az Zor, enabling Damascus to claim greater territorial consolidation after nearly 14 years of civil war. Humanitarian organisations and media reports say many Kurdish civilians in the north have faced food shortages and displacement amid continued tensions.
President Donald Trump reportedly told al-Sharaa that he was "very happy" about the Syrian army’s offensive, despite the US previously supporting the SDF in parts of northeastern Syria.
Under the decree, authorities are ordered to draft detailed instructions and procedural guidelines for immediate implementation. The state has also been instructed to protect Kurdish culture and language and to permit teaching Kurdish in public and private schools in majority-Kurdish areas. The decree designates March 21 as the official date for the Newroz spring festival.
Al-Sharaa travelled to Moscow on Wednesday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Syria’s future and the presence of Russian troops. Putin publicly praised al-Sharaa’s efforts to stabilise the country. According to the report, Moscow is working to build relations with the new Syrian leadership and to secure its military foothold in Syria following the political changes in December 2024.
Note: This article reports the decisions and statements issued by Syrian authorities and the coverage cited by Anadolu/Alikhbariah. Verification from multiple independent sources may be limited given the fluid security situation in northern Syria.
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