UK, European nations freeze Syrian asylum claims
Getty image via Daily Mail
The UK, alongside several European countries, has paused asylum claims by Syrians, citing the perceived reduction in immediate danger following the fall of the Assad regime.
The UK Home Office stated the suspension allows for “assessing the current situation” and emphasized that all asylum-related country guidance remains “under constant review.”
Other nations, including Germany, Greece, Belgium, Austria, Italy, France, and Sweden, have similarly frozen thousands of Syrian asylum applications.
In Austria, where approximately 100,000 Syrians reside, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner reportedly directed authorities to begin deporting Syrian migrants, according to ORF. Meanwhile, Germany’s federal migration office announced a freeze on over 47,000 Syrian asylum applications.
Greece has also paused the processing of around 9,000 applications, as confirmed by a government official.
The suspension comes as countries reassess the security situation in Syria. Despite this, UK Home Office data reveals that Syrians made the fifth-highest number of asylum claims in the year leading up to September, followed by Pakistanis, Afghans, Iranians, and Bangladeshis.
This collective decision marks a significant shift in asylum policy for Syrians across Europe, reflecting new political and security dynamics in the region.
