Introduction

Syrian refugees returning to their homeland after years of displacement are facing a mix of hope, challenges, and harsh realities. Here are some of their stories:

Emotional Homecomings

Nour Al-Baarini, who left Syria in 2012 and relocated to Birmingham in 2016, expressed his desire to return: “I want to go back where I grew up and celebrate our freedom.” He noted the newfound ability of Syrians to speak freely after years of living in fear.

Yousuf Rahhal, a lawyer from Idlib province now running a shop in Gaziantep, Turkey, felt proud about the recent changes: “It’s like our nation came back for us.” However, he acknowledged the heavy toll paid by the Syrian people over the past decade.

Challenges Upon Return

Ayman Abash, 54, returned to find his home in Jobar completely destroyed, stating: “We will have to start rebuilding from scratch”.

The Jawhari family in Baalbek, Lebanon, came back to discover a massive crater where their 50-year-old home once stood.

Farmer Ahmed Abu Omar’s partially destroyed home in Lebanon is now occupied by others who refuse to leave.

Security Concerns and Persecution

Many returnees have faced grave human rights abuses and persecution upon their return:

Arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention, and torture by Syrian security agencies and government-affiliated militias.

Extra-judicial killings and kidnappings.

Widespread bribery and extortion.

One refugee described Syria as “a death country, a kidnapping country. Anyone coming back will lose their money or their life”.

Economic Hardships

Mirashed Jasim, hoping to return to Aleppo, expressed concern about affording the move: “We don’t have anything, we don’t have any savings”.

Many returnees struggle to meet basic needs in a country devastated by conflict and widespread destruction.

Lack of civil documentation has become an obstacle for accessing government services, initiating legal procedures, and filing property claims.

Hope for the Future

Despite the challenges, some refugees remain optimistic:

AbdulRazzak Hawasly, who participated in the early days of the revolution, is eager to return and help shape a new Syria. He believes that with “stability, justice, and security in Syria — that’s enough of a basis to reach democracy”.

Hayfaa qal-Hawasly, from Aleppo, hopes for a better future for her grandchildren: “They deserve to have dignity, to not worry about what to say if someone asks where they’re from”.

Conclusion

These stories highlight the complex emotions and difficult realities faced by Syrian refugees as they contemplate or attempt to return to their homeland after years of conflict and displacement.