The Unregistered in Syria: A Life of Lost Opportunities

• Thousands of Syrian Kurds have lived for decades as "stateless" due to a discriminatory 1962 census decree in Al-Hasakah governorate.
• Affected groups include the "Ajanib" (Foreigners) and the "Maktumeen" (Unregistered), who were denied basic civil rights, education, and legal identification.
• In 2026, transitional authorities issued Decree No. 13, repealing the 1962 census measures and granting citizenship to all unregistered Kurds.

Historical Context: The 1962 Census

• The 1962 decree mandated a rushed, one-day census in Al-Hasakah, stripping tens of thousands of Kurds of their citizenship.
• By 2011, over 517,000 Kurds had been denied or stripped of citizenship.
• The 2011 uprising led to Legislative Decree No. 49, which provided a pathway to citizenship for "Ajanib" but excluded the "Maktumeen" (unregistered).

The Experience of Statelessness: Helbest Mohammed

• Helbest Mohammed, a 28-year-old medical graduate from Qamishli, lived as an "unregistered" person, hindering her access to formal education and professional specialization.
• Despite qualifying for medical school, she faced systemic barriers including:
  • Denied graduation certificates for years.
  • Inability to hold official ID, complicating travel and daily life.
  • Harassment at military checkpoints.
  • Financial burdens, including legal fees of approximately USD 4,000, to seek status rectification.
• Even after obtaining security approval, the collapse of the previous regime initially left her in a legal vacuum with no active digital network to process her citizenship.

Impact of the 2026 Decree

• On January 16, 2026, transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa enacted Decree No. 13, which officially voids the 1962 discriminatory census.
• The decree guarantees full equality for Kurds of all statuses.
• Helbest Mohammed confirmed she successfully obtained her Syrian citizenship following the decree's implementation.