Germany to review protection for Syrian refugees

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser gives a press statement following a hearing of a parliamentary committee focusing on the Magdeburg Christmas Market attack, on December 30, 2024 at a parliamentary building in Berlin. [John MACDOUGALL / AFP/ Getty Images]

Germany’s Interior Minister has said that the protection granted to Syrian refugees is going to be reviewed, Anadolu has reported.

“In accordance with our laws, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) will review and revoke protection if it is determined that, due to the stabilisation of the situation in Syria, people no longer need this protection in Germany,” Nancy Faeser told Funke Media Group. She added that this would also apply to those without residency rights based on employment or education and who do not voluntarily return to Syria.

“Everyone who is well-integrated, employed, has learned German and has built a new home here should be allowed to stay in Germany,” she added, before underscoring the importance of supporting those who wish to return voluntarily to Syria.

Faeser stressed the need for the swift deportation of individuals convicted of serious crimes. “The legal options for this have been expanded significantly and will be utilised as soon as the situation in Syria allows.”

According to the ministry, around 1 million Syrians currently reside in Germany. BAMF had previously suspended asylum applications of individuals arriving from Syria following the collapse of the 61-year Baath regime in the country in early December.

READ: International service to Damascus Airport set to resume on Tuesday

Unless otherwise stated in the article above, this work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. If the image(s) bear our credit, this license also applies to them. What does that mean? For other permissions, please contact us.