Syrians in Turkey divided over returning after Assad's ouster

Summary

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians living in Turkey are weighing whether to return after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. More than half a million have already left since the change of regime, from a peak population in Turkey of about 3.5 million. Many say they are being nudged toward return by bureaucratic shifts and a cooling public mood: free medical care has been curtailed, hiring regulations have become more restrictive and temporary protection status limits movement and employment. Observers warn that upcoming elections could revive anti-refugee rhetoric and increase pressure on the community.

Personal accounts show a mix of impatience and caution. Some young people and older returnees describe eagerness to rebuild and reunite with family, while others — including aid workers and professionals — cite security concerns, widespread destruction, lost homes and weak interim governance (including an interim president with a contested past) as reasons to stay. Practical obstacles such as damaged infrastructure, housing disputes and scarce jobs mean many expect returns to be gradual and conditional rather than mass and immediate, as reported by BBC