Syrians in Turkey Face Tough Decisions Amid Political Changes

Mon Dec 29 2025 10:49:52 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Bashar al-Assad's regime falters, many Syrians in Turkey contemplate returning home, confronting challenges of bureaucracy, safety, and integration in a war-torn country.

The recent political upheaval in Syria has prompted many Syrian refugees in Turkey to consider returning home. However, the realities of bureaucratic pressure, safety concerns, and the complexities of rebuilding their lives in a destructed homeland present significant challenges. Young individuals like Ahmed express eagerness to return, while families like Aya's weigh the risks and uncertainties. Despite the desire to return, many remain in Turkey, facing restrictions on their livelihoods and the potential for changing government policies that may further complicate their situation.

Syrians in Turkey Face Tough Decisions Amid Political Changes

As Bashar al-Assad's regime falters, many Syrians in Turkey contemplate returning home, confronting challenges of bureaucracy, safety, and integration in a war-torn country.

The pull of home can be strong – even when it is a place you can't remember. Ahmed, an 18-year-old, emerges from a mosque in Gaziantep with plans to return to Syria in the coming years, driven by hope for a better future.

Since the ousting of Assad, over half a million Syrians have left Turkey. While many dream of rebuilding their lives in their homeland, the reality includes significant challenges, such as navigating potential bureaucratic pressures and ensuring safety in devastated cities.

Aya Mustafa, a 32-year-old Syrian refugee, echoes this sentiment, expressing cautious optimism but acknowledging the many obstacles in returning, including the integration of children born in Turkey, and the dire need for essential services in Syria.

For some families, the complexities of the transitional government and the memories of violence deter them from considering a return. A father involved in humanitarian work states resolutely that he and his family will not move back due to security and economic concerns, while also mourning the long separation from relatives left behind.

The mood among the Syrian community is a mix of nostalgia and apprehension. Despite the desire to return, Syrians face uncertainties about their future in both Turkey and Syria, leaving them in a state of limbo.

As discussions around returning home intensify under the winter sun, many hope for a brighter future, yet remain realistic about the time and challenges that lay ahead.