After Germany and Austria, UK also temporarily paused the decisions on Syrian asylum.
Britain paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims on Monday, a government spokesperson said, after rebel forces seized the capital of Damascus over the weekend.
“The Home Office has temporarily paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation,” a spokesperson from the interior ministry said in a statement.
“We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.”
The UK decision comes after Germany, Austria and other European countries ordered a halt to asylum applications by Syrians after President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia following 13 years of civil war.
The war forced millions of Syrians to flee the country.
Most went to Turkey and other neighbouring nations but Syrians also made up a large proportion of the more than a million people who fled to Germany and Austria during the European migration crisis of 2015 and 2016.
Germany
Germany has paused asylum applications for Syrians following the toppling of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, as uncertainty over Syria’s political future looms. The move affects nearly 48,000 pending cases and has sparked both celebration and concern among Germany’s large Syrian community.
Uncertainty surrounds Syria’s political future
The decision to freeze asylum processing was made by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees due to the unclear political situation in Syria, which is now facing an unpredictable future after the fall of al-Assad. An official told Der Spiegel that, with the political situation “on shaky ground,” asylum decisions could no longer be made with certainty.
This decision affects 47,770 applications from Syrian nationals currently awaiting approval. Germany is home to the largest Syrian population outside the Middle East, with an estimated 1.3 million Syrians residing in the country. Most arrived during the 2015-2016 refugee crisis, following Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door policy for Syrians fleeing the brutal civil war.
Political shifts and calls for deportations
The political climate in Germany has shifted in recent years, with a growing anti-immigration sentiment. Following a violent attack in Solingen in August, allegedly committed by a Syrian national whose asylum case had been rejected, calls for stricter asylum policies have gained traction. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other top officials have suggested that Germany should lift its deportation ban for criminals back to Syria.
The opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is leading in the polls ahead of February’s federal elections, is now calling for a mass return of Syrians to their homeland. Jurgen Hardt, a CDU MP, said, “There will be a reassessment of the situation in Syria, and with it, a reassessment of who is allowed to seek protection in our country and who is not.”
Some members of the CDU, including Jens Spahn, have suggested offering Syrians €1,000 to encourage voluntary return. Spahn called for chartered flights to send Syrians back to Syria, saying, “This is about doing what’s right for our country and for their future.”
Human rights concerns and the Syrian community’s mixed reactions
The decision has been met with mixed reactions, particularly among the Syrian community in Germany. Many, who celebrated al-Assad’s fall over the weekend, see it as the beginning of a new era. Large crowds took to the streets in cities like Berlin and Munich, waving the flag of the Syrian opposition and chanting for freedom.
Tareq Alaows, a spokesman for the refugee advocacy group Pro Asyl, expressed concern that freezing asylum applications would leave Syrians in legal limbo. He warned that the decision could destabilise the integration of refugees into German society and create a sense of fear and uncertainty among those affected.
Andrea Lindholz, a CDU home affairs spokesperson, argued that a lasting peace in Syria would reduce the need for Syrians to seek asylum in Germany. However, others, including members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), have resisted dramatic changes to Germany’s asylum policy. Michael Roth of the SPD warned against turning the refugee issue into a “populist debate.”
Syrians in Germany hope for a better future amid safety fears
Despite the uncertainty, the toppling of al-Assad has sparked a wave of optimism among many Syrians living in Germany. Mohammad al Masri, a Syrian who participated in the early protests against al-Assad’s regime, shared his excitement, saying, “Now, we are finally realising our dream. I can return home, meet my parents, sleep in my room again.”
Roaa, a Syrian living in Berlin, expressed hope for her country’s future. “We have hope because we, the Syrian people, love each other and love our country,” she said. “But it’s going to be a lot of work to get Syria to a place where we can live with dignity. This is a very big first step.”
However, many refugees, including Rana, who protested against al-Assad in Damascus, emphasise the need for justice. “We want justice. We want him in the ICC because he’s a war criminal, and we will get him, God willing,” she said, adding that returning to Syria requires the country to first achieve democracy and peace.
The road to rebuilding Syria
Alaows stressed that before Syrians can safely return, Syria must be rebuilt, with a focus on democracy and justice. “We have to wait and see which direction the country is going in,” he said, acknowledging that the situation in Syria is still not safe for many people.
While many Syrians in Germany have dreams of returning home, they face the harsh reality of Syria’s ongoing instability, and the international community will need to address the need for reconstruction and justice before a mass return becomes feasible.
