Syria’s new leader Abu Mohammed al Jolani has told the country’s millions of refugees living in other countries that they must return home to help rebuild the country.
In his first remarks to a Western news organisation since the toppling of Bashar al Assad, al Jolani called on the estimated 6 million refugees who have fled the country over the last 15 years to come back.
Al Jolani said Syria’s pride and dignity must be restored and that “the opportunities are available to us and the people who have emigrated, who have sought asylum, who have been displaced, they must return, all these people must return so that hand in hand we can build the next Syria, God willing.”
Around a quarter of Syria’s population left the country, with many heading to western European countries, contributing to an influx of mass migration that has led to increased concerns over crime, social cohesion and demographics.
Despite still being listed as an international terrorist by the United States and other governments for previously being affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Iraq, al Jolani asserts that he is now following a moderate path.
“The fear was from the presence of the regime. The country is moving towards development and reconstruction. It’s going towards stability,” he said.
Despite innumerable scenes of celebration in western European cities over the past week, many Syrians have indicated that they won’t be returning to their homeland any time soon.
As we highlight in the video below, one Syrian who set up a fast food joint in Germany insisted that it was not safe to go back to Syria despite Assad’s government being turfed out.
Another Syrian refugee who attended a celebration in Dublin said that he wouldn’t be going home in the near future because the economic situation in Syria is “not good.”
Another factor dissuading many Syrians from going home is the generous welfare handouts they receive from western governments.
