Returning from Syria: "I want to go back to Germany" Dreams of returning home have shattered
Only a small number of Syrians have returned from Germany to their homeland, and 23-year-old فادي محمد is among them. He says he no longer feels at home in Syria and wants to go back to Germany.
فادي محمد returned about six months ago after living nearly two years in Germany with a temporary residence permit. While his friends celebrate the new leadership of interim president أحمد الشراع, who came to power after HTS overthrew Assad in 2024, he feels alienated. Mohammad says he cannot adjust to life in Syria after experiencing European culture, education, and work.
According to German authorities, more than 3,200 Syrians returned under the REAG/GAR state program by November 2025. Experts note that disillusionment and regret are common among returnees because towns and communities have been destroyed, leaving a society very different from the one they fled. Mohammad explains he initially returned due to homesickness and social media depictions of prosperity, only to find the reality far harsher.
Daily life in Idlib is highly conservative. Women wear full-face veils, and men and women rarely mix publicly. Mohammad reports social pressure, including criticism for his long hair, and describes living in a small, sparsely furnished apartment. He attempted to run a fast-food business, but customers avoided it, forcing him to close. The region remains tense, with occasional clashes between government forces, Kurdish militias, and remnants of ISIS.
Despite receiving financial support from Germany for his return, Mohammad no longer wants it. He hopes to go back to Germany legally with a work visa, train as a nurse, and work in a hospital or care home. “Germany needs people to do these jobs,” he says, adding that he has already sent applications and is eager for a second chance to rebuild his life.