Syrians in Turkey Torn Between Returning Home and Staying Put

Syrians in Turkey weigh whether to return to a changed homeland

Many Syrians in south‑east Turkey are divided over whether to go back to Syria after the December 2024 ousting of President Bashar al‑Assad. Some, like 18‑year‑old Ahmed, feel a strong pull to reclaim their homeland and are saving to move back within a year or two. More than half a million Syrians have left Turkey since the regime change, after the country once hosted up to 3.5 million people who fled the civil war that began in 2011. Personal accounts vary: Aya, 32, hopes to return eventually but worries about destroyed cities, missing services and elderly or disabled relatives; another Syrian aid worker refuses to move because of security, economic and governance concerns; others, like Mahmud and Suad, are preparing to return once conditions improve.

At the same time, many feel pushed by changing conditions in Turkey. Syrians under “temporary protection” face restrictions on movement, difficulty obtaining work permits and the end of free medical care from January, while new hiring rules raise employers' costs. Civil society groups say authorities have signalled it is time to go, and analysts warn that upcoming elections could revive anti‑migrant rhetoric and tighten policy. For now, choices range from an organised one‑way return to careful planning to stay, reflecting deep uncertainty about safety, services and livelihoods back in Syria, as reported by BBC