[arlk]

Coursera (or the third party api they use) couldn't verifying my identity with the Syrian passport, and justified that with sanctions, although I haven't been to Syria in a year and I'm living abroad.

I had to delay my online masters degree because of the fear of being denies access to the courses material, because I can't risk spending what is literally my three years work savings in Syria to get nothing.

They often think that it's easier for them to just deny all of the sanctioned countries access than having to get through a legal problem. And this applies to many things other than the MOOCs that are not sanctioned or sanctions don't apply to if you're living in another country.

[jklein11]

What country are you in? Can you get a government issued ID there? In the US you can get a drivers license or even a non-driving ID even if you aren't a citizen. I'm sure other countries have something similar.