The focus: Syrian refugee with a Turkish passport in court

The focus: Syrian refugee with a Turkish passport in court

In a current procedure before the court, there is a 62-year-old man who came to Austria as a refugee. The defendant had found his center of life in the Alpine Republic in 2013, fled before the war in Syria, where he lived with his family. However, he is accused of having given information about his citizenship and receiving state support payments without legal claims.

The man who has received up to 1,400 euros per month since 2014 to January 2024 has stated that he maintains his Syrian passport, although a Turkish passport has been found in his apartment. This led to suspicions that the man was not Syrian citizens and the asylum authority then initiated a procedure for the dismissal of his asylum status.

legal examination and defense

The accused rejects all accusations. "I am innocent," he recently said in court. He emphasizes that he applied for asylum and received the corresponding minus payments. His lawyer, Muna Duzdar, vehemently defends her client and believes that he has never given false information. "He was assured that he should answer exactly," said Duzdar regarding the question about Turkish citizenship.

The procedure has been going on for a long time because the defense against the dismissal of the asylum status has lodged a complaint. This ongoing procedure is now waited for the court appointment before a final decision on the allegations is made. In order to evaluate the further steps, the judge will also consult employees of the responsible office.

The circumstances that led to these serious allegations raise questions about the legal framework and the administrative processes in the asylum procedure. The incoming examination of the case takes place at a time when the topic of refugee protection in Austria is particularly sensitively discussed.