Request to Reconsider Syrian Account Restrictions in Light of Recent U.S. Sanctions Changes #159352
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Select Topic AreaQuestion BodyDear GitHub Support Team, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing on behalf of a growing community of Syrian software developers who rely heavily on GitHub for access to educational resources, collaboration on open-source projects, and career opportunities in the global tech industry. Recently, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly announced that all sanctions on Syria have been lifted. While we understand that GitHub must comply with official U.S. regulations as administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), we kindly ask that you review whether this change may allow GitHub to revise its current restrictions on Syrian accounts. We believe open-source collaboration should remain accessible to developers worldwide, especially those in conflict-affected regions who seek peaceful and constructive engagement through technology. We respectfully request that GitHub investigate the implications of these reported changes and consider restoring access for Syrian developers, or at the very least, provide a clear official position regarding this matter. We are hopeful that GitHub, as a leader in the global open-source community, will continue to support inclusion and opportunity regardless of geography. Sincerely, |
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Replies: 37 comments 53 replies
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Thank you @abdulmalekDery very much for sharing your thoughts and the feelings of the Syrian developer community. Your words are important and greatly appreciated by us. We fully understand the importance of the news you mentioned regarding the sanctions, and the hope it holds for your developers. As you know, official and legal matters usually take their own course and time. Announcements may be a first step, but practical implementation on the ground may require further procedures and clarifications. Over the years, our approach at GitHub has always been to support and advocate for access for developers from all over the world, as far as laws and regulations allow. This is a fundamental principle for us, and it is reflected in our policies, details of which can be found at https://github.com/about/developer-policy/. We are closely following developments, and any potential policy changes based on legal updates will certainly be seriously considered. We still have more work to do. We want every developer to be able to collaborate on GitHub within the bounds of the law. Stay tuned. We appreciate your patience and understanding. We are always interested in hearing from you and staying in touch to better understand the challenges and aspirations. Our heartfelt wishes to you and all the wonderful programmers in Syria for all the best and success. |
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Must GitHub enforce US export controls on US citizens in Syria? |
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@mlinksva I understand your point, But would you please assist to take a look at my case and unblock my account as i'm about to be fired from my company due to this issue. |
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I've recently went to syria for a visit and had to check something on GitHub, all of my orgs and my account got restricted! when I went back to my country I submitted an appeal and I'm about to lose my clients and projects because of this. how long would the appeal take and will the restriction be lifted? |
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Also, for me still happening, I got banned on 1/Aug/2025 |
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I understand having these restrictions due to legal reasons but why have an appeal process if you're not willing to provide any response for it? My account has been suspended since April and I have not yet heard back on my appeal although I provided all the documentation required. |
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Dear GitHub Team, On May 23, 2025, the U.S. Treasury issued General License 25, which allows transactions with Syria’s interim government, central bank, and state enterprises and permits new investments and export of services to Syria Right now, many Syrian developers cannot fully use GitHub because of country restrictions. But GL 25 shows that most sanctions have been lifted. Unblocking Syrian accounts will let talented developers learn, share code, and work with others around the world. This can bring hope and new skills to communities still recovering from war. Please update GitHub’s policy to reflect GL 25 and restore access for Syrian developers. By doing this, GitHub will help rebuild lives in Syria and strengthen the open‑source community everywhere. Many Thanks. |
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Dear GitHub Support Team @mlinksva , I hope this message finds you well. My name is Kenan Wahbeh, and I am a student currently studying Business Administration in Univesity Of The People. I’m writing to express my full support for the message recently shared by Eng.Abdul Malek Dery @abdulmalekDery on behalf of the Syrian developer community. Like many young students and aspiring developers here, I believe deeply in the power of open-source collaboration and the opportunities it brings for learning, growth, and meaningful global engagement. Being a student in Syria, I rely heavily on platforms like GitHub to access valuable educational resources, contribute to open-source projects, and develop the skills necessary to become a successful developer. These tools are not just about coding — they represent a bridge to knowledge, innovation, and international cooperation. We understand that GitHub must comply with U.S. export regulations and legal requirements. However, we respectfully ask that GitHub consider the potential impact of recent developments regarding sanctions on Syria, and whether these changes could allow for expanded access to GitHub services for students and developers in our country. We come from a peaceful and welcoming community that seeks progress through technology, education, and collaboration. Our goal is to grow as developers, contribute to the global tech ecosystem, and help advance fields such as medicine and data science through unbiased, transparent research and development. Allowing us to fully participate in the GitHub community would not only empower our personal growth but also enrich the diversity and inclusiveness that make open-source development so powerful. Thank you very much for your time and understanding. We truly appreciate GitHub’s ongoing efforts to support developers around the world, and we remain hopeful for a future where geography does not limit opportunity. Wishing you all the best, |
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Is there any update on this? I just got my account banned. Please HELP @mlinksva |
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I just got my account back, Thank you so much. |
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Hey. How did you manage to get your account back? Mine was restricted ~3 months ago. I went to the UAE, submitted an appeal and It's been 2 months almost and I haven't heard back. I even opened a ticket. Their staff are extremely unresponsive. |
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didnt do anything other than commenting here. |
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My account has been banned during my visit to Iraq and Syria 4 months ago, and I even came back to the States, and I had appealed multiple times, to no vail. My account is still banned. Customer Support haven't even responded to me at all. |
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please @mlinksva assist, my account is banned because I went on a quick trip to Syria, and now I'm back in the UAE and still not able to use my account. Your assistance is highly appreciated as I'm about to be fired from my job because of this reason. |
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can you please help me with my account @mlinksva it's also banned |
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still banned here :( |
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Hey @mlinksva, I also lost access to all my private repos after accessing GitHub from Syria without a VPN. Is there anything you can do to help restore access? |
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@mlinksva same with me, I have left syria now and I urgently need access to my repositories! Please help :( I submitted an appeal already but would really appreciate a quick review! |
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Same here, visiting syria and my account is fully restricted now |
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I finally received a response to my appeal 3 months later.
I'm over this. Guess I'll have to wait until Github actually decides to lift the restrictions on Syria. |
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Hi @mlinksva, is there any update on this? Both U.S. and EU have lifted sanctions, yet GitHub still blocks access — automatically locking accounts used from Syria. I recently visited after 14 years and met incredible developers rebuilding the tech scene. Sadly, they’re still cut off from GitHub. Even I was hesitant to log in during my stay! This isn't just about local devs — it's about access for anyone visiting Syria too. Would appreciate an expedite solution for this issue 🙏🏼 |
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@mlinksva any updates? |
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@mlinksva |
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We fully understand that legal matters take time, but this is actually frustrating and confusing for us.
Does GitHub require more procedures and clarifications from the US government? Aren't the current decisions/announcements/permissions enough for GitHub to lift sanctions on Syrian developers? What about the official statements in links below?
Some well-known companies such as Steam and Binance already lifted the sanctions:
We appreciate GitHub's response above, but we haven't received specific updates on these matters:
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The problem is that what was lifted so far is only described as a "first step" and only affects certain government bodies to allow investments and bank transactions and the like. American sanctions on Syria are layered and haven't all been lifted yet. Let's hope things change in the coming months. |
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Guys the sanctions have finally been lifted, congratulations. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/06/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-provides-for-the-revocation-of-syria-sanctions/ |
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Great news 🎉, hopefully Github takes action soon! |
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Now any updates?? |
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Summary: 1. Background on Revocation of Syria Sanctions OFAC Implementation: On June 30, OFAC published a press release implementing the President’s action and four new FAQs (1220–1223), clarifying that Syria’s broad sanctions program is no longer in effect and relevant individuals/entities have been removed from the SDN List OFAC FAQs: FAQ 1220 states that the economic sanctions administered under the Syria Sanctions Program are revoked, property interests are unblocked, and the CFR text will be removed; FAQ 1222 confirms no license is needed to export food or medicine; FAQ 1221 allows U.S. financial institutions to resume relations with Syrian banks Prior Easing Steps: On May 23, 2025, OFAC issued General License 25 (GL 25) and related guidance authorizing a wide range of transactions, foreshadowing full revocation 2. Why GitHub Should Update Its Policy Only Targeted Sanctions Persist Risk-Based Compliance Is Sufficient Precedent Among Technology Platforms 3. Request to GitHub Trust & Safety In light of the binding U.S. legal changes effective July 1, 2025, we respectfully request that GitHub: Reinstate any and all accounts belonging to users who were suspended solely due to prior Syria-sanctions policies. Unfreeze assets and remove restrictions on Git repositories, pull requests, and associated services for Syrian users—both residents and visitors. Update GitHub’s export-control policy to reflect that general permissions for non-targeted activities in Syria have been fully restored, and publicly announce this update to reassure the community. GitHub has long championed open collaboration across borders. Aligning your policy with OFAC’s revocation will empower Syrian developers—who have contributed significantly to open-source projects—to continue collaborating globally without interruption. 4. Conclusion Thank you for your prompt consideration. References AP News: Trump signs order ending Syria sanctions OFAC Press Release SB0183: Revocation; FAQs issued OFAC FAQ 1220–1223: Effects and licensing guidance Reuters: White House says Trump to sign EO terminating Syria sanctions Reuters: US takes first steps easing Syria sanctions (GL 25) Reuters: Syria completes first global SWIFT transfer since war Financial Times: Trump lifts most US sanctions on Syria Reuters/CBS: Trump to sign order easing Syria sanctions Politico: Trump scraps Syria sanctions regime Al Jazeera: Trump formally orders lifting of Syria sanctions Axios: Trump signs executive order lifting most sanctions on Syria |
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Hello folks, |
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Finally, after 3 months. 
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Are you based in Syria right now? |
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Nope, In UAE |
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No |
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Select Topic Area Body I hope this message finds you well. I am writing on behalf of a growing community of Syrian software developers who rely heavily on GitHub for access to educational resources, collaboration on open-source projects, and career opportunities in the global tech industry. Recently, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly announced that all sanctions on Syria have been lifted. While we understand that GitHub must comply with official U.S. regulations as administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), we kindly ask that you review whether this change may allow GitHub to revise its current restrictions on Syrian accounts. We believe open-source collaboration should remain accessible to developers worldwide, especially those in conflict-affected regions who seek peaceful and constructive engagement through technology. We respectfully request that GitHub investigate the implications of these reported changes and consider restoring access for Syrian developers, or at the very least, provide a clear official position regarding this matter. We are hopeful that GitHub, as a leader in the global open-source community, will continue to support inclusion and opportunity regardless of geography. Sincerely, |
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Will GitHub restrict my account if I access it from Syria using only a VPN? |
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Yes, I wouldn't recommend doing it. Done this before and got banned |
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Ok so I was able to get my account unsuspended, but only after escalating the case within my company (some people at my company, Google, have close relations to GitHub). GitHub, stop with the excuses. My case got approved so all the people in this thread, specifically those who have proved they are no longer in Syria, should have theirs approved now as well. I shouldn't get any better treatment just because of the company I work at. While I thank those people for taking care of my case, it is truly a shame how GitHub is handling this. The neglect for my fellow Syrian developers is an absolute tragedy. My case being approved just proves it is not a matter of policy at this point (specifically for those who are not even in Syria anymore), but of a lack of care for the Syrian developer community. |
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Hi @YasserDbeis, Thanks for your sharing. I know it seems to be a sleazy question, But Would you be able to ask the person who assisted you in your case to do the same with me?, It's quite urgent and i'm about to be in between jobs if this case didn't get resolved. |
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my account just reactivated, |
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Vercel just restored access for Syrian developers. How is Vercel not restricted by US Export Controls but GitHub is? 
https://x.com/rauchg/status/1943154674598887845 |
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Honestly this whole situation has made me reconsider using Github as a backup for my work. It's been 5 months and I can't access any of my private repositories. You'd think that someone as big as Microsoft would at least give explanations on what's causing the delay. I've seen startups with better customer support than what they have here. |
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Did you guys know that developers in Iran have full access to Github? We're talking about Iran that chants (Death to the U.S), this country has full access to Github, no issues at all Meanwhile, we Syrians - the good new allies of the U.S - we don't have full access to the Github, although we're no longer sanctioned There are no policies that needs to be implemented here, president Trump was very clear and he offered a full and exhaustive sanctions revocation over Syria with no strings attached Developers' workflows are paralyzed and you guys aren't even disturbing yourselves to provide people with the minimum amount of explanation, and I don't know any reputable platform that does that except for you, what a shame! For the record: since Microsoft seized Github, this platform has been gradually degrading, because that's what Microsoft does best at the end of the day - ruining things ... |
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Don't worry, Slack's support isn't any better. I wouldn't expect much from US tech companies. 
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At this point it wouldn't surprise me if North Korea got their access back before we did, lol. |
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North Korea already has access to GitHub |
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I'm a student living in China, how can I appeal to GitHub to remove the account restrictions? They have not responded to my ticket for more than a month. Thanks. |
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My account has been banned during my visit to Syria 6 months ago, and even though I came back to Türkiye, and I have filed appeals multiple times, I got no response. Can I get any help? @mlinksva |
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Dear GitHub Team, On May 23, 2025, the U.S. Treasury issued General License 25, which allows transactions with Syria’s interim government, central bank, and state enterprises and permits new investments and export of services to Syria Right now, many Syrian developers cannot fully use GitHub because of country restrictions. But GL 25 shows that most sanctions have been lifted. Unblocking Syrian accounts will let talented developers learn, share code, and work with others around the world. This can bring hope and new skills to communities still recovering from war. Please update GitHub’s policy to reflect GL 25 and restore access for Syrian developers. By doing this, GitHub will help rebuild lives in Syria and strengthen the open‑source community everywhere. Many Thanks. |
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We are deeply concerned about the growing impact of economic sanctions on Syrian developers and tech professionals. Many Syrian GitHub users report: Account restrictions without clear justification, limited access to critical tools and private repositories, and so many barriers... The Syrian developer community wants to contribute positively to global tech – how can we work together to make this possible? #OpenSourceForAll #TechSanctionsReform |
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Praise be to Allah. Restrictions on my GitHub account were just lifted. |
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Did you submit an appeal a while ago? |
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My account and orgs were all blocked. I can't access any of my work and I've submitted an appeal already. Let's hope they lift the restriction soon because it's going to cause me my work if it doesn't. |
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@nachawati Could you please tell me when did you submit your appeal? It has been almost two months since I submitted the appeal form, but I have not received any response. |
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@omarsdev, @renbaoshuo I don't remember exactly when I submitted an appeal, but it has been at least a few weeks. My account had been restricted, for the second time, since May. |
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I don't know if they process appeals according to the submission date. I submitted my appeal materials on June 2, but I haven't heard anything since. I really doubt that they ignored my appeal request. |
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Glory be to Allah. It looks like GitHub is just playing games. They just restricted my account again! |
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holy moly, Did they restricted it again even without opening it in any of restricted countries ? |
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In my appeal, I specifically told GitHub that I'm an American citizen residing in Syria. |
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Open Source Shouldn't Have Borders But in reality? Syrian accounts are still banned. Developers are losing access just for visiting Syria. Entire careers and livelihoods are being destroyed. No clear response. No official policy update. Just silence. We’re not asking for charity — we’re asking for fairness. For the right to learn, contribute, and work like everyone else. Many of my friends, talented developers, are now refusing to return to Syria, even for a short visit. Why? Because GitHub and other U.S. companies haven't updated their policies to match the law. Imagine being forced to stay a refugee abroad just to keep your job. This is unacceptable. If platforms like GitHub truly believe in open collaboration and empowering developers globally, they must: Reinstate Syrian accounts We, Syrian developers, are part of the global tech ecosystem. We’ve contributed to open-source, built startups, and written code used by millions. Don’t lock us out. Open source should be open to all. #FreeSyrianDevs |
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To be fair, if all you're doing is open source, then GitHub still functions for you even with the restrictions. |
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To be fair, it's not just about "doing open source". The restrictions affect far more than that they block private repositories, organization access, marketplace tools, and even basic functionality like GitHub Copilot, which I can't use at all. GitHub isn't just a code host anymore it's where we collaborate with teams, push updates for jobs, access CI/CD pipelines, and use tools like Actions, Pages, and security scans. All of these are either blocked or severely limited under these restrictions. And even for open source work, GitHub places heavy limitations on what restricted users can do such as joining organizations, managing projects, or even publishing packages. The issue isn't just what's blocked, but how easily accounts get suspended just for visiting Syria, and how long people stay locked out even after leaving. Some of us have lost jobs, contracts, and access to critical tools. I know developers who now feel forced to remain refugees abroad not because of war, but because coming home means losing their ability to work. Sanctions were lifted on July 1st. OFAC confirmed it. GitHub is legally allowed to restore full access but hasn't acted. That’s the issue here: a silence that’s costing people their careers. We're not asking for favors. We're asking GitHub to comply with the law and support its own mission to make open source accessible to everyone. |
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Even if they fully remove sanctions, I doubt that GitHub is legally obligated to provide service to Syrians. However deliberately denying service to Americans like me might constitute a 'civil rights' violation. I wonder if there are any lawyers on the platform who could weigh in on the issue. |
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Hi! 👋 Recent changes to U.S. sanctions may open the door for re-evaluating account access for Syrian users. It would be great if GitHub could reassess current restrictions in line with updated U.S. policies — especially for educational, open-source, or humanitarian purposes. For now, affected users can also contact GitHub Support directly and reference the updated OFAC guidance for Syria. This might help in reviewing specific cases or requests. Hoping GitHub will consider this with empathy and alignment to recent policy shifts. |
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Thank you @abdulmalekDery very much for sharing your thoughts and the feelings of the Syrian developer community. Your words are important and greatly appreciated by us.
We fully understand the importance of the news you mentioned regarding the sanctions, and the hope it holds for your developers. As you know, official and legal matters usually take their own course and time. Announcements may be a first step, but practical implementation on the ground may require further procedures and clarifications.
Over the years, our approach at GitHub has always been to support and advocate for access for developers from all over the world, as far as laws and regulations allow. This is a fundamental…