Syrian expatriates working abroad can rest a little easier as Syrian authorities have said they will start renewing passports again after an unexplained hiatus.
The Syrian State News Agency (SANA) reported Thursday that the Ministry of the Interior extended the validity of Syrian passports from six to 10 years and that all expired passports of Syrian nationals abroad would be renewed for two years, regardless of the reasons that had earlier prevented their renewal and without obtaining previously necessary authorizations.
Syrian expatriates are unable to travel on expired passports and many complain they have faced problems obtaining or renewing residency visas with expired documents.
Mohammed Mazeed Al-Takawi of the National Council of Syria, and a resident of Jeddah, told Arab News yesterday that the renewal of passports was a small matter compared to the thousands of Syrians dying every day. He said the international community should be blamed for failing to stop the bloodshed.
About 1 million Syrian expatriates live and work in Saudi Arabia, the largest Syrian community outside of Syria. The vast majority live in Jeddah and the western region. Most come from conflict areas including Aleppo.
Many Syrians have stopped traveling to Syria because they fear persecution.
Agence-France Press reported that Ahmed Moaz Al-Khatib, head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, said he would speak to President Bashar Assad’s representatives if expired passports were extended for two years and 160,000 prisoners were released.
Rebels control large areas in the north of Syria. Aleppo emerged as a major battleground in the country’s civil war after rebels launched an offensive there in July 2012. Since then, the rebels and regime troops have fought street by street for control of Aleppo.
The Syrian consulate in Jeddah has been closed for some time. The consulate previously handled the payment of SR 18,000 that each Syrian man has to make for not doing military service.
Saudi Arabian Airlines has not flown to Syria for more than a year.
Syria to renew expired passports of its expats
