Left in Limbo: Uncertainty For Europe’s Syrian Refugees Post-Assad

In this piece, we argue that these decisions are not only premature, but also not commensurate with facts on the ground, unethical, and likely in violation of European countries’ international legal commitments.

What have these European countries announced and who will these policies and practices affect?

Within 48 hours after former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was deposed, Germany kicked off what would become a series of steps by European countries affecting those seeking safety within their borders. Germany placed a freeze on the processing of asylum applications, leaving thousands of people in limbo. Belgium, Greece, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, among other countries, announced that they would suspend new asylum claims and that they would pause existing asylum claims that were being processed. Other countries have taken additional escalatory steps that will be even more difficult to reverse. Austria has announced a “return and deportation program” and a halt to the processing of family reunification visa schemes. Denmark has suspended the asylum cases being processed and has announced plans to start deporting Syrians as well.

Across these policy announcements, there has been little to no clarity on how long freezes and suspensions are expected to be in effect, who deportations will cover, and when they are expected to begin. It is also unclear as to whether these decisions, when they are taken, will be subject to individualized assessment or appeal. As a result, these steps have left asylum seekers in limbo; unable to make decisions affecting their livelihoods, housing, work, and education; and uncertain as to their ultimate fate. While these decisions affect all asylum seekers, they have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, such as children, women, victims of serious human rights abuses, elderly people, people with disabilities, and separated families who are waiting on reunification. These steps and the manner of their announcement have created immense psychosocial stressors and have intersected with physical and mental health challenges that many asylum seekers already suffer from due to the experiences they lived through inside Syria, throughout their displacement process, and even now after the fall of the regime—particularly for those who hoped to finally find their loved ones among those newly-released from prison, but have not been able to.

Across these policy announcements, there has been little to no clarity on how long freezes and suspensions are expected to be in effect, who deportations will cover, and when they are expected to begin

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[JosueSivirichi]

He who obeys Christ has eternal life, but he who refuses to obey Christ will not see life, but the wrath of God is upon him.

[chrismitchell]

EU let the refugees decide when it is safe to go home assist the new government of Syria to rid itself of Russia & its cronies!