For Syrians who built a new life in Europe, asylum suspensions now threaten their future

The joy for Syrians in Europe following the fall of the Assad regime and 13 years of the devastating conflict was short-lived.

In a wave of coordinated policy shifts, European nations reacted swiftly. Overlooking Syria's destroyed infrastructure and precarious security situation, many nations suspended asylum applications after the opposition gained control of Damascus and Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia.

Austria announced support for the voluntary returns of Syrians, signalling a broader trend across Europe. Belgium temporarily halted asylum applications, while Germany indefinitely paused all asylum procedures.

Sweden, questioning the need for continued protection, suspended the processing of Syrian cases. Similarly, the UK, France, and Denmark froze asylum decisions to reassess security conditions, with Denmark allowing rejected applicants to stay temporarily.

Other countries joined in: Greece paused decisions on 9,000 cases, the Netherlands imposed a six-month suspension, and Norway halted decisions on pending applications.

Italy, Ireland, and Finland followed suit, each suspending or freezing decisions to evaluate the new circumstances. Meanwhile, Switzerland and Poland suspended asylum-related decisions until further security reviews.

The situation for Syrians in the Netherlands was no better. Dutch Immigration Minister Margrethe Faber informed Parliament on Monday that the country would impose a temporary halt on processing asylum applications from Syrian nationals.

This meant that the Immigration Department would cease evaluating applications for six months, with the impact of Bashar al-Assad's ousting still unclear and concerns over whether it was safe for people to return.

What followed was a swift shift from celebration to protest.

In Domplein Square, Utrecht, Syrians who had initially celebrated the regime's fall now gathered to demand the reversal of this unjust decision.

Large protests were held, organised by the Stop Racism and Fascism platform, where Syrian and Palestinian refugees joined local activists to oppose the Dutch government's suspension of asylum policies. The demonstrators condemned the influence of far-right ideologies, which they believed were using Syrian refugees as a political tool to gain votes from their citizens.

In an exclusive interview with The New Arab, Syrian refugee Mohammed shared his deeply uncertain situation. "The Dutch government and several European countries have recently declared that Syria is safe," he said.

"Just two weeks ago, they were talking about negotiating and sending people back, but we all know what happened in Sednaya prison and other Assad prisons."

He pointed out that the political situation in Syria remains unclear, with no stable government in place, only a transitional one.

"We were happy when we got rid of the Assad regime, but that doesn’t mean Syria is safe. It doesn’t mean everyone should go back. Many of us have travelled a long way to find safety and a better future. For them to consider Syria safe now is completely illogical."

Having been in the asylum process in the Netherlands for seven months, Mohammed's case is among those frozen for six months.

"I have no idea what will happen after that. Will they approve my case? Will they deport me? The situation is completely uncertain, and the future is unclear," he said.

"There’s a lot of fear among Syrians in the camps about being sent back, and it brings back the traumas we lived through. The destruction left by Assad and his regime is still very evident. Not everyone can return now, especially those who left everything behind. I don’t even have a home there anymore. If I return, I have nothing left. We have no jobs, no prospects, and would have to start over."

He emphasised how difficult it is for those like him who fled war and destruction.

"I’ve been away for 13 or 14 years. Returning now is nearly impossible. It’s hard to adjust to a society so different from the one we left behind," he explained. 

Mohammed's situation reflects the struggles of many Syrians facing an uncertain future as they navigate the complexities of asylum policies and the political situation in both Europe and Syria. His experience of fleeing his destroyed home in Aleppo, selling everything to reach safety in the Netherlands, only to now face the possibility of being deported, underscores the precarious position of many refugees today.

In another interview, Samia, a Dutch woman married to a Syrian man and mother to Syrian children, shared her perspective on the situation in Syria.

"My husband is from Syria," she said. "I have been here for almost ten years now, since the Syrian revolution. The question is, is Syria safe now? I would say that Syria is still not safe."

She expressed her mixed feelings about recent events, saying, "We are very happy that Bashar al-Assad has fallen. After 13 years of his rule, it’s finally good that he is gone and has left Syria. But Syria is still not safe."

Samia went on to explain the ongoing challenges in Syria: "For example, we still have Israeli airstrikes, and there are many other things in Syria that are not right yet and need to be addressed before Syria can be considered safe." She emphasised that before Syrians in the Netherlands or other European countries can return, Syria needs to be rebuilt.

"Everything in Syria is mostly destroyed. If we talk about whether my husband can return to Aleppo, yes, he can, but all the houses, everything, is destroyed. Where will he live? Where will he sleep? How about our children? We have three kids. Where will they sleep? Where will we go? In that sense, Syria is still not safe."

Samia's insights highlight the profound challenges faced by Syrians, even as the political landscape in Syria shifts. Despite the fall of the regime, the destruction and instability remain barriers to any hope for a safe return.

Syrians in the Netherlands decided to stop celebrating the fall of Assad's regime, fearing backlash from far-right groups. Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician, quickly responded by calling for an immediate halt to Syrian asylum requests, arguing that if Syrians were celebrating the changes in Syria, they could be deported.

Akram Jundi, leader of the Ahrar Holland group, which organises Syrian demonstrations and celebrations in the Netherlands, shared his views on the situation in Syria and the ongoing uncertainty faced by Syrian refugees.

He emphasised that while the fall of Assad’s regime after 13 years of war is a significant development, Syria is far from being safe, pointing out that over 70% of the country is still destroyed, and various foreign actors, including Russia, Iran, and other militias, continue to operate in different regions.

This ongoing instability, along with the presence of multiple conflicting powers, makes it impossible to consider the country safe for return, he states. 

Regarding the recent suspension of asylum requests in the Netherlands and other European countries, Akram expressed his belief that this decision is unjust and premature. He explained that Syrians who fled their war-torn country, leaving behind everything to seek safety in Europe, now face the prospect of being forced back to a destroyed homeland with no homes or jobs to return to.

For many refugees, returning would mean starting their lives from scratch in a country that has lost its infrastructure, where rebuilding will take decades.

He also criticised the European governments for labelling Syria as "safe," stating that such decisions ignore the harsh reality of the country’s destruction.

He noted that many of the Syrians who fled were escaping oppression and danger, and after enduring long and difficult journeys, they now face the fear of being sent back to an uncertain future. He called for a Syria free of foreign influence, where the Syrian people themselves can rebuild their country without division or interference, stressing that Syria can only be considered truly safe for return once it is fully rebuilt and governed by its people in peace and unity.

The European shift comes amid uncertainty about Syria’s future and the fate of Syrian refugees. Many have resettled across Europe.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured that well-integrated Syrian refugees are welcome in Germany. However, recent statements have unsettled the Syrian community, as right-wing groups push for their return following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Karim, a Palestinian-Syrian refugee in the Netherlands, also mentioned that he considers himself Syrian because he grew up with them and shared their struggles. When his asylum request was processed upon arrival in the Netherlands, it was categorised as Palestinian-Syrian, not just Palestinian. He views this as an injustice, not only to himself but also to his friends who are similarly affected by these classifications.

Mohammed, a Syrian refugee, activist, and journalist, is deeply concerned about the speed with which decisions regarding Syrian refugees are being made in the Netherlands. He feels that these decisions give the impression of an underlying agenda.

He points out that, on the same day or the day after the decision was made, it felt as though the authorities were dissatisfied with Syrians, despite their contributions to the Dutch economy. He highlights that many Syrians, including himself, are well-integrated into society, pay taxes, and have children who speak Dutch fluently.

He mentions the pressing labour shortage in the country, especially in small towns like his, where there is a lack of workers in pharmacies and buses, emphasising that not all Syrians receive social assistance; many are in the early stages of their lives in the Netherlands, learning the language and working hard to build a future.

Mohammed received humanitarian asylum, not political asylum, and he understands that once the war ends, he could face deportation, just like the Iraqis who were sent back after the war ended.

With at least three years to go before he can apply for permanent residency and citizenship, he is uncertain about his future. He fears that if Syria is considered safe within the next six months or a year, his future and the future of his children may be destroyed. He has nothing to return to in Syria and believes that even if he does return, he will be an expatriate in his own country.

On the other hand, the potential return of Syrians residing in the Netherlands or Germany to their home country could exacerbate the labour shortages in hospitals, as well as in other sectors such as transportation and logistics.

In his message, Chancellor Scholz mentioned that "around 5,000 Syrian doctors are currently working in German hospitals."

The same situation applies to the Netherlands, where a significant number of refugees have contributed to sectors like postal services, restaurants, and construction.

Municipalities are also trying to find work for them in sectors facing severe labour shortages. Therefore, the future of these refugees remains unclear, especially considering that they sold everything they had and left behind their homes to embark on perilous journeys to Europe.

Mouneb Taim is a producer and journalist from Damascus, Syria. He was awarded TPOTY's Photographer of the Year and ICFJ's Best Young Male Journalist in 2020