The Syrian asylum seekers who settled in Turkiye and escaped from the civil war, want to spend the Feast of Sacrifice with their relatives in their countries continue to pass through Öncüpınar Border Gate in Turkiye’s Kilis.

Syrians who are taken to the customs area at the border gate after having registered to the appointment system formed by the Governorate are forming long queues at the border from the night time. The Syrians are having the great pleasure of returning to their country for the feast after the controls.

The Syrians, who took refuge in Turkiye because of the civil war and passed to the countries for the feast exceeding 50 thousand. Syrians said that they want to celebrate Eid in peace with their families and relatives in the lands they grew up and raised as before the war.

Some of the Syrians say that they will come back to Turkiye after Eid, while some say that they will not return to Turkiye and want to stay in their country.

The Syrians who were waiting at the border to pass to Syria for the Feast of Sacrifice shared their feelings and thoughts with ILKHA.

Ali Moslu stated that he came to Turkiye because of the war in Syria about 4 years ago and settled in İzmir with his family. He said that “There is no place like the man’s own hometown” and he will not return to Turkiye again.

Moslu stated that he will go to Syria because of the Sacrifice Feast, “We came from Izmir and going to Syria for the holiday. We arrived at 01.00 o'clock at night and we are still waiting to pass through the gate. I hope to go to Syria for the feast. I have been in Turkiye for 4 years. I am a Turkmen of Syria, I came from El-Bab. My father is in Syria and I go to him. Now, 3-4 thousand people are waiting here. I have not been to Syria for 2 years I do not know what the last situation is now. My region has been cleansed from the DAESH. We will not return.”

Mustafa Alilaga, who has been waiting at the border with his family since yesterday to pass to Syria, said, “I have been in Turkiye for 5 years and I am going to Syria to celebrate Eid al-Adha. We are going to see our family and elders in Eid. I have my parents in Syria. I was always talking to them on the phone, the last time I saw them was 2 years ago, and now I hope to see when I go to for the Eid.”

Mustafa Ali stated that his mother, father, and sister are in Syria and that he would return to Turkiye after the Eid visit.

Nuray Osman 90-years-old stated that she had to leave her son, her three daughters and her grandkids in Syria about 5 years ago and stated that she had settled in Batman. She stated that he had the chance to meet her relatives whom she did not see for years.

Osman said, “I came to Turkiye for my children. If I did not come to Turkiye, they would kill my children. I have been in Turkiye for 5 years and my son said 'mother miss you, come to me. I am going to go to Syria for my children in this situation. I will see my children on holiday and come back again.”

Mahmut Sahir and Sidre Neddeh voiced that there were words for their happiness to go to the land where they grew up after years.

ILKHA