refugees from Syria Photo: Getty images
After the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, several European countries decided to temporarily suspend consideration of asylum applications from Syrian refugees. The reason for this is the declared changes in the political situation, which, according to the governments of these countries, can make the return of Syrians safe, BBC and Politico write.
Austria: the toughest approach
Austria has announced plans to review security conditions in Syria, which could pave the way for the deportation of refugees. Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that his government would support Syrians who want to return home and noted that the situation in the country had “fundamentally changed”. Currently, about 95,000 Syrians live in Austria, most of whom arrived during the 2015-2016 migration crisis.
Germany: suspension of application processing
In Germany, home to about one million Syrians, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has temporarily suspended processing new asylum applications from Syrians. Officials explain this by the uncertainty over the stability of Syria. Currently, 47,000 Syrians are awaiting asylum decisions.
Other European countries
- The UK has also suspended consideration of Syrian refugee applications, citing rapid changes in the political situation.
- France, Norway, Belgium, Italy and Greece have announced similar measures, while Cyprus has frozen asylum applications from Syria since August.
Lebanon and the return to Syria
Thousands of Syrians who were in Lebanon and Jordan have returned home, but the flow at the border remains two-way. Lebanon has tightened entry rules as more Syrians try to leave the country for fear of chaos and crime.
Criticism from human rights activists
Human rights organisations and humanitarian groups have expressed concern over these measures. They stress that the fighting in Syria continues and the country’s future remains uncertain. “We call for the right to asylum and the principle of safe and voluntary return to be upheld,” said Imogen Sudbury of the International Rescue Committee.
Political context
The decision to suspend asylum was made against the backdrop of the growing popularity of far-right parties in Europe. In particular, in Italy, Georgia Maloney gained support due to her tough anti-immigration policy, and in Germany, the rise of anti-immigration sentiment before the election had a significant impact on public opinion.
