Syrian refugees begin returning home as European countries halt asylum applications
Refugees displaced by Syria’s long civil war are starting to return home following the dramatic fall of former president Bashar al-Assad. The overthrow of Assad by Islamist rebels has intensified global debate about the future of millions of Syrian refugees who fled the conflict, particularly in Europe and the Middle East.
European countries such as Germany, Austria, and Sweden, which have hosted large numbers of Syrian asylum seekers, have begun pausing asylum applications. Germany alone has frozen over 47,000 pending claims, with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stating that decisions will depend on Syria’s evolving political situation.
Will Syrian refugees return home? – Calls for repatriation
Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced plans for “orderly repatriation and deportation to Syria.” Meanwhile, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other European leaders are pushing for parts of Syria to be designated safe for refugee returns.
Observers caution that while some refugees are eager to go back, others may face new uncertainties under Syria’s Islamist-led government. Returning to a country under untested leadership could be particularly challenging for families who have spent years integrating into European societies.
Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011, forced over 12 million people to flee, creating one of the largest refugee crises in modern history. Many Syrians sought refuge in neighbouring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, while over a million were welcomed into Europe.
Some refugees, especially those in unstable host countries like Lebanon, have already begun returning. However, questions remain about how hospitable Syria will be for returnees, with concerns over governance, safety, and the ability to rebuild after years of war.
