Syrian Kurdish forces require displaced Arabs to obtain 'expat card' to remain in their areas

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is requiring Arabs displaced from all Syrian regions who are living in the areas under their control to obtain an expatriate card to be allowed to enter or remain.
Men standing in the back of a truck after fleeing battles between SDF and IS in the Syrian village of Baghuz arrive after crossing a desert to a region controlled by the SDF in Deir ez-Zor on Jan. 26, 2019.
Displaced men stand in the back of a truck after fleeing battles between the Syrian Democratic Forces and fighters from the Islamic State in the Syrian village of Baghuz. They arrive after crossing a desert area to a region controlled by the SDF in the countryside of the Deir ez-Zor province on Jan. 26, 2019. - DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images
DSC00998.JPG
Mohammed Hardan
@_MohammedHardan

The local authorities in northeast Syria have demanded all Arab refugees from all Syrian regions leave the areas controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) unless they have a sponsor for their residence.

This step, taken by the local councils of the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria, comes with the implementation of a law the administration issued on May 27 requiring displaced persons to have a sponsor from among the original population as a condition for the residence in its areas of control. The conditions for such sponsorship differ from one region to another.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 for annual access.

Videos

See more