Germany’s move to freeze Syrian asylum applications cloud celebrations of the Assad regime’s fall
Imad Al Suliman, 37, did not even catch a wink between December 7 and 8. As news emerged that the 54-year dictatorial regime led by the Assad family was brought to an end by militant forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Mr. Suliman expressed his happiness through quiet tears rather than loud cheers.
“Those were not just tears of happiness but also tears for those who could not witness this day, those lost to prisons, to the bombs, to the Mediterranean Sea. The celebration was for the resilience of people who refused to give up their humanity in the face of a dictator intent on stripping it away,” said Mr. Suliman.
The louder celebrations would carry on for the rest of the day. In the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, Syrian nationals converged at Oranienplatz in the thousands to celebrate the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8. Happy faces painted in green-white-black, honking cars, celebratory songs, people forming groups to do the traditional Dabka folk dance, and countless independence flags of Syria were seen all around despite the temperatures hovering around 2C.
Mr. Suliman who is an author and human rights activist, was forced to flee Syria because the regime made it difficult for him to live safely. His family, who he has not seen since 2015 but has been in constant touch with, still lives in Syria.
“My father passed away last year due to injuries from an earthquake. Unfortunately, I lost him without seeing him. I am hoping to see my family soon. Before December 8 this kind of hope was unthinkable, but I am glad that I will get to fulfil that dream soon,” said Mr. Suliman.
No sooner had the Syrian capital, Damascus, been declared free than news emerged that Mr. Assad had fled with his family and was provided asylum in Moscow, Russia.
Mohammad al-Bashir has been appointed as the head of the transitional government till March 1, 2025. While HTS emerged from the al-Qaeda terrorist network, it claims it has broken all ties with al-Qaeda since 2016. HTS is still considered to be a terrorist group by the UN, the U.S., the EU, and Turkiye. But its leader Abu Mohammed al-jolani is presenting a moderate face by reaching out to the Western media.
Since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011, close to a million Syrian refugees have come to Germany. Of this, around 2,00,000 were able to obtain German citizenship. From January to November 2024, asylum applications from Syria once again topped the list at 75,000, followed by 34,300 from Afghanistan and around 29,600 from Turkiye, according to the German Federal Statistical Office.
Following the developments in Syria, on December 9, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) decided to pause all asylum applications from Syrians.
“There are currently 47,000 pending asylum applications from Syria that will not be decided. The decision does not only impact Syrians who arrive and ask for asylum since the fall of Assad, but it applies to everyone in the asylum procedure that has not received a decision before December 8,” said Wiebke Judith, legal spokesperson for PRO Asyl, a pro-immigration advocacy group.
Austria, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom have also announced similar measures.
Politics over human rights?
While German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed solidarity with Syrians celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, he hoped law and order prevailed in Syria. “All religious communities, all ethnic groups and minorities must enjoy protection. All Syrians must be given the opportunity to live life in dignity and self-determination. We will judge the next Syrian government by this,” said Mr. Scholz.
Politicians from the conservative opposition Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), currently leading the polls in Germany at 32%, called for the return of Syrians living in Germany.
Former Health Minister and senior politician Jens Spahn from the CDU even called for offering incentives for Syrians to leave Germany. “How about the German government saying: anyone who wants to go back to Syria, we’ll charter planes for them and give them a starting payment of €1,000”, he told a local TV news network.
The anti-immigrant far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) that is polling second in Germany at 19%, has been calling for closing Germany’s borders to outsiders. It’s head and Chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel wrote on X, “Anyone celebrating ‘free Syria’ in Germany obviously no longer has a reason to flee. They should return to Syria immediately.”
The political reactions are not surprising for Diba Mirzaei, a doctoral researcher at German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) with a focus on West Asia. She noted that it was too early for talks about sending Syrians back.
“We do not know what the future will look like. It is still not safe to be in Syria, especially when you are based in the northeast (the Kurdish areas) or close to the border areas with Israel. We do not know if the future of Syria will be an Islamic dictatorship or democracy or whether women and religious and ethnic minorities will have freedom or not,” said Ms. Mirzaei. The Kurds, Christians, and Alawites are among some of the minorities in Syria.
Zuhair, 35, who has Syrian parents, was born in Germany. But post-2011, a large part of his family members who were based in Aleppo, Syria, were compelled to leave their homes for other countries due to the destruction caused by the Assad regime. Zuhair (who only gave his first name) feels the German government’s decision to halt asylum applications is horrific.
“A lot of Syrians are euphoric right now and dreaming. But we are not naive. We know that the situation is still violent in a lot of parts of Syria. The future is still unclear for a lot of minorities in Syria, so stopping asylum applications is a dangerous signal. It does not reflect the reality in Syria,” said Zuhair.
Mr. Suliman concurs. “Amid all the celebrations, I cannot escape the knowledge that this is just one step in a long journey. The scars of war, fractures within the society, lingering shadows of authoritarianism would demand years of work. Freezing asylum applications at this critical juncture risks sending the message that the world is turning its back on Syrians just as they begin the difficult journey of rebuilding their nation,” he said.
From pro-refugees to anti-immigrant
Germany wasn’t always like this. In the 2015/16 era, under the leadership of Angela Merkel, the country took in the most number of Syrian refugees escaping the civil war. Ms. Merkel’s Wir schaffen das! (we’ll manage it!) slogan ensured that Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war were welcomed.
“When I arrived in Germany in July 2015, I was met with warmth, hope, and the chance to rebuild my life. Germany has been a beacon of hope for many Syrian refugees and it offered us a chance of safety and rebuilding our lives shattered by war and oppression,” said Mr. Suliman.
But things have changed drastically since. As Germany prepares for elections next year, migration has become a top political issue. Leaders from Ms. Merkel’s party, the CDU/CSU, have been the loudest voices among mainstream parties, for sending Syrians back.
Ms. Mirzaei, being a citizen with a migration background, first noticed a difference in attitude towards migrants post 2017.
“2017 is when the AfD entered the German parliament or the Bundestag. There was a shift in the society after that. Some things that could not be previously said out loud can now be said without any repression. Racist language has become more widespread in the mainstream,” said Ms. Mirzaei.
Mr. Suliman who felt welcomed in 2015 has also noticed this shift.
“Over the years, I have witnessed a shift toward anti-immigrant sentiment, rise of populism fuelled by political rhetoric that frames refugees as burdens rather than contributors. This has created division and uncertainty for many migrants, overshadowing the initial spirit of solidarity,” said Mr. Suliman.
AfD is the second most popular party nationally and is the most vocal on anti-immigration narratives. AfD either won or came in second in three State elections this year. Last year, an investigation revealed that AfD had a secret meeting to discuss plans for “remigration” of non-Germans. Talks of sending Syrians back to their home country remind many of this narrative.
According to Ms. Judith, the demands to send Syrian refugees back are unrealistic, dangerous, and irresponsible.
“It lacks any legal or factual basis, both with regard to German asylum and residence law and the situation in Syria. It is also very narrow minded, shows how internal politics often weigh over human rights and foreign policy in the German debate, especially in a year of rising populistic debates on asylum and migration, shortly ahead of new elections,” said Ms. Judith.
Syrians filling a critical gap
Ms. Mirzaei feels if Germany proceeds with its plans to send Syrians back, it could end up setting a precedent for asylum seekers from other countries.
“This will have a tremendous impact on the economy and healthcare sector. Many villages in Germany have hospitals that heavily rely on Syrian doctors and nurses. What will happen to the healthcare sector if there is a Syrian exodus?” questions Ms. Mirzaei.
According to German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, more than 6,000 Syrian doctors are working in Germany, and they are fully integrated and indispensable for healthcare. This is one sector where Germany is always short on qualified candidates.
“Instead of conducting an internal discussion about asylum procedures, the German government should concentrate on supporting Syria on its path towards respect for human rights, the rule of law, and security,” said Ms. Judith.
Mr. Suliman feels measures like freezing asylum applications will impact integration and community cohesion. “It creates a climate of uncertainty and fear among the Syrian community. Those awaiting family reunions or with pending applications are left in a limbo. This impacts their mental health and makes it harder for refugees to contribute positively to the communities that have welcomed them,” said Mr. Suliman.
“Even if Syria becomes independent and stable, it is not clear if many Syrians who have moved here will return. Many have German citizenship and residency permits. Legally, they cannot be forced to return,” said Ms. Mirzaei.
The eight-point plan
On December 11, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock came up with an eight-point plan on Syria which included establishing an international consensus, dialogue with HTS, German diplomatic presence in Syria, reconstruction of Syria and returning Syrian refugees, among other proposals.
Ms. Mirzaei feels Ms. Baerbock’s eight-point plan should be followed with action as technically it is in line with German policy in West Asia.
“Germany’s actions in West Asia leave a lot to be desired. Two of its allies – Turkiye and Israel – are the biggest roadblocks for peace and security in Syria. Turkiye has been committing massacres against the Kurdish people in Syria and we saw how Israel attacked the defence bases immediately after Assad fell. Germany needs to talk to its allies and apply pressure on them to stay away from Syria,” said Ms. Mirzaei who feels Germany has little leverage in West Asia as compared to Russia, Turkiye, or the U.S.
Mr. Suliman has not lost hope and believes that Germany still has the potential to lead with empathy and build stronger and more unified communities.
“I remain committed to sharing stories that highlight the humanity of migration and advocating for inclusion,” said Mr. Suliman who dreams to see a Syria that is reborn, free, democratic, secular, and united.
(Nimish Sawant is an independent journalist based in Berlin)
Published – December 17, 2024 04:00 am IST
