Repatriating Syrian Refugees to Syria

"It is very uncomfortable."

"We are not some people who just arrived in Germany. We have lived here for ten to twelve years."

"We are part of the [German] society."

Sulaiman Abdullah, Syrian journalist/refugee 

"This is mentally devastating. It's difficult that after you set your mind to live here, build a new life here, learn the language and integrate in this country, you now have to return to your homeland where basic necessities are still missing."

"The fall of Assad is a huge joy for all Syrians, but we who came here and went into debt to finance this journey, every time we arrive in a new place, we have to start over again. It's difficult to think about returning to Syria now."

Hasan Alzagher, Syrian asylum seeker, Germany

Containers used as houses for refugees at former Berlin Tempelhof airport in Berlin. Germany has frozen the application process fo asylum seekers from Syria. EPA-EFE/Filip Singer

Syria's new government the head of which, Ahmad al-Sharaa of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, appears to have convinced some Western governments that his party is no longer affiliated with al-Qaeda, no longer a terrorist entity, but transformed to one that is dedicated to saving Syria from the failure it became under now-deposed Bashar al-Assad; that under his new direction for the country it will emerge an entirely different nation, one with room and respect for its minorities, one where the rule of law (Sharia law) will prevail, one that will no longer seek incursions into other countries' territories, nor wage conflict with neighbours.

 

The European countries to which displaced Syrians fled during the Syrian civil war when the Baath party led by the Alawite (Shi'ite) minority went to war under the Assad regime with its Sunni Syrian majority when Sunni discontent at being treated like second-class citizens convinced the regime it need not negotiate when violent repression was an option of choice, are viewing the downfall of the Assad regime with relief, believing that now is the time to return the refugees to their homeland.

 

Syrians who fled the civil war that ravaged their communities are now facing the prospect of the countries where they settled in Europe are prepared to wave them adieu, and they are anything but pleased at the turn of events. Germany alone holds 1.3 million Syrian refugees, while Turkey had given haven to multiple millions and soon became restive under the burden of harbouring them at huge economic cost. Turkey, in fact, did not wait for Assad's departure before returning tens of thousands of those it sheltered to Syria.

 

In Europe, many of the refugees ran afoul of the law and cultural/social mores ... and posed a threat to women and other minorities. Conservative elements within Europe, along with some mainstream politicians discussed the feasibility of chartering planes to Syria to return their Syrian refugees as soon as Assad departed Syria. They were willing to pay each refugee $1,000 euros as a bonus if they agreed to leave. Denmark has offered a $20,000 euro repatriation package to any Syrian residing in Denmark as an incentive to leave.

The asylum status of Syrian refugees in Germany has not yet been reviewed, with the European Union cautioning its members not to rush in deporting people, in that the peace now prevailing in Syria is preliminary and it remains to be seen what may occur yet in the near future, as the country grapples with its newfound freedom, and whether the euphoria over Assad's departure is pasted over the actual presence of yet another oppressive regime temporarily posing as the country's saviour.

 

A protest outside the Danish Embassy in Dublin in June 2021 in support of Syrians who were deported from Denmark back to Syria [Getty]

 

The situation is now such that many of those refugees who settled across Europe have become uneasily apprehensive of their future. In Germany the presence of Syrians is that of the largest refugee population. One that has become an integral part of the country's workforce, some operating their own businesses. They labour in the service sector or as drivers, delivery people or warehouse workers.

In addition, a significant number of Syrians are in the professions of medicine and health care. Leaving German officials to warn that dire consequences could ensue for the German health care sector should they lose the medical specialists of Syrian origins operating within a strained German health care system. Syrians who are now comfortable with the language and the lives they have established in Germany are alarmed at how swiftly their status in Europe is now being questioned.

Getty Images