December 10: In the wake of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Russia after rebels captured the capital, several European nations have decided to suspend asylum applications from Syrian citizens. This shift comes after 13 years of civil war, forcing countries to reconsider their migration policies amid evolving circumstances in Syria.
Country-Specific Actions:
Austria
Austria’s interim government has stopped processing Syrian asylum applications. Interior Minister Gerhard Kerner has instructed officials to create a program for the “orderly extradition and deportation to Syria.”
Britain
The UK has temporarily halted decisions on Syrian asylum claims to reassess the changing situation, according to a government spokesperson.
Croatia
Croatia announced a temporary suspension of asylum applications for Syrian citizens.
Denmark
Denmark has paused processing Syrian asylum cases and extended deadlines for rejected applicants to leave due to current uncertainties.
Finland
Finland’s Migration Authority has suspended the review of 350 Syrian asylum applications as of Tuesday.
France
France’s Interior Ministry is working toward halting Syrian asylum cases, with a final decision expected soon.
Germany
Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has placed all Syrian asylum applications on indefinite hold.
Greece
Greece has paused the processing of approximately 9,000 Syrian asylum applications and will finalize its decision in a government meeting scheduled for Friday.
Italy
Italy’s government has temporarily halted the processing of Syrian asylum applications.
Norway
Norwegian immigration authorities have announced a freeze on Syrian asylum applications, neither approving nor rejecting them for now.
Sweden
Sweden’s migration agency has suspended decisions on Syrian asylum applications, citing difficulty in assessing current security conditions.
Switzerland
The Swiss government has temporarily stopped processing asylum requests from Syrian nationals to reassess the security and political situation.
This widespread suspension underscores the uncertainty in Syria following Assad’s departure, as European nations take a cautious approach to reevaluating their asylum policies.
