Austria exposes asylum procedures for Syrians to Assad's fall

Austria exposes asylum procedures for Syrians to Assad's fall

Cilvegözü, Türkei - Austria made a drastic decision on December 9, 2024: All ongoing asylum procedures of Syrian citizens are suspended. This affects an estimated 7,300 open procedures in the first instance. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) announced that all asylum notices granted to date are also checked. These measures are a direct reaction to the rapidly changing political situation in Syria, as Karner explained in a press release that indicates the increased interest in returns and return programs. "I commissioned the Ministry to prepare an orderly return and deportation program to Syria," said Karner. Family reunification is also suspended. This happens in a context in which demonstrations of Syrian refugees took place in Vienna who celebrated the fall of Assad, which according to FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl is a clear sign of willingness to return.

consequences of the political change in Syria

parallel to the situation in Austria, there is a lively interest in return options in Turkey: hundreds of Syrian refugees have gathered at border crossings to return to their homeland. These flight movements follow the fall of Bashar al-Assad last weekend, which arouses a new hope for many Syrians to return to a safe environment. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte commented on the situation by pointing out the role of Russia and Iran, who are now regarded as an unreliable partner.

a total of 12,871 asylum applications were made by Syrian citizens from January to November 2024. This raises questions about the future handling of asylum procedures. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, on the other hand, warned of overflowing conclusions about the security policy situation in Syria by emphasizing that the situation was still confusing after the fall of Assad. The EU also warned of too much hopes for quick return options for refugees to Syria, since the conditions are still precarious at the moment. In the meantime, humanitarian organizations find that the situation in Syria, despite the political changes, remains catastrophic with over 12.9 million people who rely on humanitarian aid, so reports . .