According to a new survey report published by TDA, the majority of Syrian refugees in Turkey hope to one day return to Syria. However, around 70% of respondents identified political change – specifically “overthrowing the regime” – as a precondition for safe and voluntary return. This perspective reflects the reality that the overwhelming number of Syrian refugees in Turkey have sought refuge from the Assad regime’s practices, including bombing, siege, arbitrary detention, and forced displacement.
Syrian refugees’ insistence on political change as a condition for return to Syria may have implications for negotiators and other international actors, including the regime’s allies, who continue to sink resources into a conflict that still has no end in sight.
The report, “Syrian Refugees in Turkey: Perceptions on Return to Syria,” examines the conditions under which a safe and voluntary return would be possible, including safety and economic concerns, political preconditions, and correlations with other sociodemographic characteristics.
The survey also found that among those who wish to return to Syria, 71% are only willing to return to their places of origin, raising questions about whether the establishment of a safe zone in the northern part of the country can serve as a realistic solution.
Since the conflict began in 2011, young Syrians have spent much of their lives in Turkey and have integrated into Turkish society, factors that influence their desire to return to Syria. Young Syrians and Syrians with strong Turkish language skills were less likely to want to return.
