Terrorists from Isis are being handed Syrian passports, sparking concern they could travel to the UK.
Reports are emerging from Damascus that the new Syrian regime was granting citizenships to foreign Islamic extremists.
Former Al-Qaeda jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa seized power and became Syrian President in December after deposing the former leader Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Moscow.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel called the reports “extremely alarming”.
Al-Sharaa became the interim president of Syria in January after he led the rebel offensive that overthrew al-Assad.
His party Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control in the capital Damascus, have tried to consolidate their hold over a nation fractured by a 14-year war and bouts of sectarian violence that have fueled distrust of him among minorities.
The country has been hit with waves of ethnic and religious violence, including an Isis attack on a Christian church which killed 22 people.
The terrorists who attacked the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester pledged alliance to Isis over the phone with the emergency services.
Isis fighters could be granted citizenship
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GETTY
Now, the Express reports jihadists could be travelling to Syria to gain citizenship and a passport so they could come to the UK.
Current guidelines state Syrian nationals can apply for a Standard Visitor visa costing just £127 for up to a six-month stay.
Dame Priti Patel told The Express: “It is extremely alarming to hear that the Syrian Government is apparently handing out passports and citizenship to Islamist militants.
“Our first concern should be making sure no such people are able to use this newfound status as a way to get into the UK and commit acts of violence. Just this month we experienced an abhorrent attack on a synagogue by an ISIS-aligned terrorist. The threat is incredibly serious.
Dame Priti Patel issued a warning about Damascus
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PA
President Al-Sharaa made history when he became the first Syrian leader to address the United Nations, telling the General Assembly the country was “reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world”.
However, co-chair of political affairs for the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) Badran Chia Kurd added: “HTS includes extremist foreign jihadist groups, some of which were part of ISIS, while others are affiliated with al-Qaeda, Hurras al-Din, the Turkistan Islamic Party, and others.
“What is particularly dangerous is that the HTS led government in Damascus is granting these foreign fighters Syrian citizenship.
“Once they obtain Syrian passports, they will be able to travel to other countries, potentially posing a threat to the countries they go to.”
A Government spokesman said: “Our priority remains maintaining the safety and security of the UK.
We will take action to prevent those who engage in activity that threatens our national security from entering the UK and robust security checks are in place as part of the visa application process.
“The Syrian Government has taken decisive action against Da’esh.
“We will continue to work with relevant authorities across Syria to ensure Da’esh’s enduring defeat.”
President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa
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REUTERS
The Syrian Government is developing closer ties with Moscow, President al-Sharaa told Vladimir Putin he would honour all past deals struck between his country and the Kremlin.
It suggests Moscow’s two main military bases in Syria are safe.
President al-Sharaa told President Putin: “There are bilateral relations and shared interests that bind us with Russia, and we respect all agreements made with it. We are working on redefining the nature of relations with Russia.”
Mr Putin told him that Moscow was ready to do all it could to act on what he called “many interesting and useful beginnings” that had already been discussed between the two sides when it came to renewing relations.
