Germany and Austria Halt Syrian Asylum Applications After Assad's Fall; 47,270 Cases Affected

Dec 9, 2024, 01:25 PM

Germany and Austria have suspended decisions on asylum applications from Syrian citizens following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, who has reportedly fled to Russia. Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) halted the processing of 47,270 asylum applications from Syrians, citing the unpredictable situation in Syria and stating that current rulings would be "on shaky ground." Austria has similarly suspended open asylum procedures affecting around 7,300 applications and plans to re-examine existing asylum decisions. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced a deportation program to Syria, and family reunification processes have also been suspended. Other European countries, including France, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Greece, and Sweden, have announced similar measures. Germany, home to the largest Syrian population outside the Middle East, has paused asylum applications as the situation in Syria is deemed too unclear to make decisions.