European Countries Halt Syrian Asylum Claims

Expatriate Syrians gather to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 8, 2024. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

European countries are suspending Syrian asylum claims in light of recent regime change developments in the country.

Germany, the UK, Austria, Sweden, and others have all announced that they will suspend the processing of asylum applications from Syrians following the fall of the Assad regime.

Islamist rebel forces seized the capital of Damascus over the weekend, with Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Moscow.

The primary terrorist group behind the offensive—culminating in the regime’s collapse on Dec. 7—is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which translates to “Organization for Liberating Syria” in Arabic. HTS captured Aleppo, Hama, and Homs in a rapid campaign beginning Nov. 27.

This brought an end to more than 50 years of Assad family rule and concluded the 13-year Syrian civil war, which began during the Arab Spring in 2011.

Asylum Suspensions

A group of Syrians wave the country's new flag while celebrating the fall of the Assad regime in Piccadilly Circus, London, on Dec. 9, 2024. Chris Summers/The Epoch Times

Germany, which accepted more than a million Syrian refugees under Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2015, has put all Syrian asylum applications on hold until further notice.

On Nov. 9, Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) announced that asylum requests would not be processed until there is greater clarity on Syria’s political situation, as the country emerges from civil war.

Syria remained the leading country of origin for asylum seekers in Germany this year, with 72,420 applications submitted by the end of November, according to BAMF data. Of these, 47,270 applications remain undecided.

The UK’s Home Office also paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims.

“The Home Office has temporarily paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review to respond to emerging issues.”

Under a British government scheme, 20,319 Syrian refugees had been resettled in the country between March 2014 and February 2021, according to the Refugee Council.

British Foreign Minister David Lammy told the UK Parliament that the Syrian situation could potentially increase migration.

“Seeing so many start to return to Syria is a positive sign for their hopes for a better future now that Assad is gone,” Lammy told parliament.

“But a lot depends on what happens now. This flow into Syria could quickly become a flow back out and potentially increase the numbers using dangerous illegal migration routes to continental Europe and the United Kingdom.”

Austria’s Interior Ministry stated that it had been instructed to suspend all Syrian asylum applications and review existing cases where asylum had already been granted.

The ministry also announced plans to implement “a program of orderly repatriation and deportation to Syria.”

Sweden’s Migration Agency likewise announced it would pause decisions on Syrian asylum applications, citing the current inability to assess the situation accurately.

Norway, Italy, and the Netherlands also announced suspensions of Syrian requests. France is expected to announce a similar decision shortly.

Shifting Attitudes

European countries, once known for their liberal immigration policies, have begun tightening restrictions as the issue of mass migration reaches a political and security boiling point.

Germany, Sweden, Austria, and France implemented strict border controls this year. Anti-immigration parties have gained electoral ground, although mainstream coalitions have so far kept them from governing.

In Germany, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is polling second nationally, is preparing for an election in February.

AfD leaders have called for strict border controls, reduced asylum applications, and a focus on preserving what they describe as traditional German culture. The party has said that “Islam does not belong to Germany.”

Sweden’s migration policy is undergoing a paradigm shift, radically tightening its immigration policies, due to the vast numbers of immigrants it has taken in over the past two decades, which has led to parallel societies and gang violence.

Austria’s Freedom Party achieved its highest vote share in national elections earlier this year, running on the slogan “Fortress Austria.”

Its manifesto calls for the removal of immigrants who entered Austria illegally and the enforcement of strict criteria for legal immigration. The party also promotes “remigration,” encouraging the return of immigrants to their countries of origin.

Reuters and Chris Summers contributed to this report.