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Syrian asylum seekers in limbo as European countries suspend applications

Syrian asylum seekers in limbo as European countries suspend applications

The fall of Bashar al-Assad has brought with it uncertainty for Syrian asylum seekers across Europe, as several countries freeze applications from Syrians, arguing that those who fled his regime no longer have reason to fear returning to their homeland .

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Since Sunday, December 8, several European countries have suspended the processing of asylum applications from Syrians – the largest group of asylum seekers in Europe.

Sweden, Norway, Italy, Denmark and Germany – which has taken in more than 712,000 Syrian refugees and asylum seekers since the war began in 2011 – are among those that have suspended applications.

For Syrians already in these countries, applications will not be processed until Syria’s new leadership and security conditions become clearer.

Austria, the United Kingdom, Greece and Belgium also have them suspended the trialarguing that since most Syrian asylum seekers were fleeing the Assad regime, there was no longer any justification for not returning to Syria.

France’s support for the Syrian transition depends on respecting the rights of minorities

France cautious

Francehowever, it takes a more measured approach.

While the Home Office says it is working on suspending Syrian asylum applications, the decision ultimately comes down to offeran asylum seeker protection agency that is under the financial and administrative supervision of the ministry but operates independently of the government.

The organization is currently analyzing 700 cases, 45,000 Syrians have sought refuge in France since 2011.

For many long-term Syrian residents in Europegoing back seems impossible, despite the changing situation in Syria.

“For me personally, I think it’s too late. I have a good business, I’m engaged to a French woman and I’ve already applied for naturalization. At my age, I know France better than Syria,” Iyad Alzorkan, who arrived in France in 2010 , he told RFI.

Spain has chosen to maintain its existing asylum policy, confirming that it will continue to process Syrian applications.

Syrians hold rallies in Paris and across Europe to celebrate Assad’s fall

Political divisions

The far-right political parties in Europe are pushing for more aggressive measures. Germany’s AfD party claims Syrians are entering Germany celebrating the fall of Assad have no reason to stay and should return to Syria. The CDU, Germany’s conservative party, has proposed offering 1,000 euros to those willing to return.

In Denmark, far-right leader Morten Messerschmidt said he hoped Syrians living in the country would soon return home, which he said would “improve the rape statistics in Denmark”.

Meanwhile, the government in Vienna announced plans to review the cases of 40,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in the past five years in order to prepare for potential deportations.

For many refugees, this is an alarming prospect.

“Many Syrians are well integrated here, they work here. I myself have two daughters who were born in Austria, they don’t even know how to read Arabic,” said Abdulhkeem Alshater, a 43-year-old man who fled Homs and was granted asylum in Austria in 2015.

“And this announcement comes too soon, Syria is not yet safe, it is not yet stable. It seems inhumane to announce this. People are desperate and angry today.”

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Lukas Gahleitner-Gertz from the NGO Asylum coordination criticized the Austrian government’s decision as politically motivated rather than practical.

“If the situation in Syria becomes stable, there could be processes to revoke refugee status. But now, this is premature and misleading,” he said.

The EU response

The European Commission urges Member States to coordinate their approaches.

While asylum policies remain under national jurisdiction, the European Union works with the United Nations refugee agency to organize voluntary returns.

“Most Syrians in the diaspora dream of returning home, but the decision must be an individual one“, said the spokesperson of the Commission, Anouar El Anouni.

Interior ministers from across the EU are due to meet Brussels this week, with further talks scheduled for December 16 between foreign ministers.

France welcomes the fall of Assad in Syria and calls for a peaceful transition


This story was adapted from RFI the original version in french