In a move that has raised widespread questions among Syrians abroad, Mohammed Baraa Shukri, son of the Minister of Religious Endowments, Mohammed Abu al-Khair Shukri, has been appointed as the chargé d'affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Berlin, Germany.
This appointment comes at a time when the wave of criticism surrounding his performance during his tenure as head of the Consular and Expatriate Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to subside.
Rapid Promotions and Questions About Competence
Shukri's biography reveals remarkable career leaps. After graduating from Sabahattin Zaim University in Istanbul (Bachelor's degree in 2019 and Master's degree in 2022), he quickly found himself at the helm of sensitive diplomatic portfolios.
From Director of the Consular Department to Director of the European Department in May 2025, he now represents Syria in one of Europe's most important capitals.
This rapid rise has revived criticisms leveled at the Foreign Ministry's selection process after the revolution, with Syrians questioning whether nepotism or family ties to officials (such as his father, the Minister of Religious Endowments) have become the criteria that supersede diplomatic competence and field experience.
In recent months, Mohammed Baraa Shukri's name has been linked to the chaotic situation at the Syrian consulate in Istanbul. According to Zaman al-Wasl's investigations and accounts from citizens, this period was characterized by:
- The unchecked power of middlemen: Appointments were impossible to book through the official website, while they were readily available through intermediaries for exorbitant fees.
- Mismanagement: Long queues and humiliating treatment of those seeking appointments led some to describe the situation as a revival of the former regime's methods of disregarding the dignity of Syrians.
- A lack of transparency: The consular administration under his supervision was accused of failing to devise technical or administrative solutions to alleviate the suffering of thousands of Syrians in Turkey. The Berlin Challenge: Diplomacy Under Scrutiny
Shukri travels today to Berlin, home to the largest Syrian community in Europe and a sensitive political center of gravity.
Observers believe that appointing someone whose name has been associated with administrative failures in Istanbul could send a negative message to Syrians in Germany. And the question remains: does he speak German?
Al-Hussein Al-Shishakli - Zaman Al-Wasl
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