site.btaWill Syrian Refugees in Turkiye Return after Fall of Bashar al-Assad's Regime

"Millions of Syrians residing in our country can now return to their homeland," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday, adding in relation to Syria: "The principle of inclusion must be applied, we should not seek revenge, it is time to unite and rebuild the country."

On Monday, Turkiye's top diplomat again highlighted the issue in a speech to the Turkish ambassadors' conference that began in Ankara.

"We will make every effort to ensure the safe return of the Syrian migrants," Hakan Fidan was quoted as saying by Gazete Pencere.

The return of refugees is one of the main topics in Turkiye amid the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Will Syrian refugees return to their country, will the return of Syrians begin after their 11-year stay in Turkey - these are questions that analysts, experts and millions of Turkish citizens are looking for answers to.

Meanwhile, Turkish media reported that there has been an influx of Syrian citizens wishing to cross into Syrian territory at Turkish border crossings along the 900-kilometre border with Syria for two days.

At the Turkish customs, the authorities check the identity and documents of Syrians against an online registration system. Those who have unpaid taxes or various fines are not allowed to cross into Syria. Syrians with regular documents who wish to return to their home country are removed from the system, indicating that they are returning of their own free will, and their Turkish documents are collected.

There are no precise figures on how many people have crossed from Turkiye into Syria in recent days.

CNN Turk and TRT Haber have broadcast reports in which Syrian citizens say they are ready and willing to return to Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Among the most enthusiastic to return are young people.

However, analysts believe that the return of Syrian refugees is not an easy issue.

Above all, it is a matter of voluntary return, said Saliha Muslum from the Istanbul Refugee Centre.

Above all, this issue rests on the basis of voluntary return, said Saliha Muslum from the Istanbul Refugee Centre.

Eleven years ago. Syrian refugees were accepted as "guests of the Turkish state". This status is still in force because it has not been revoked. The state meets the costs of treatment and other expenditures. Many own property, businesses, shops. A number of Syrians were granted Turkish citizenship, she points out.

According to official sources, 238,768 Syrians have temporary protection status in Turkey, but the actual number is believed to be significantly higher. Currently, 3,096,157 Syrians are officially registered in Turkiye. However, according to opposition Victory Party leader Umit Ozdag, they exceed 5 million. Among them there are those who are without regular documents, illegals, etc., which is also a problem.

"Bashar al-Assad is gone and you can return to your homeland," Ozdag urged Syrians in a statement to Halk TV.

According to the privately-owned NTV, Turkey is working in coordination with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on safe and secure return programmes for Syrians.