Foreign Islamists petition Syrian state for citizenship

By Timour Azhari

(Reuters) -Foreign fighters and others who joined Syria’s civil war from abroad have petitioned the new Islamist-led government for citizenship, arguing they have earned it after sweeping to power with rebels who ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad.

The fate of foreign fighters has loomed large since Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power, with few states willing to take back people they often view as extremists and some Syrians wary of their presence.

Many of the fighters and…