German Chancellor: We welcome Syrian who managed to integrated into German society to remain
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed on Friday evening that Syrian refugees who are integrated into German society are welcome, amid calls from some conservatives and the far right to return them to Syria following the fall of President Bashar al Assad.
In a message posted on X, Scholz said, “everyone who works here and is well integrated is welcome in Germany and will remain so, that’s for sure”.
He pointed out that some recent statements have raised concerns among citizens of Syrian origin.
After the fall of Bashar al Assad’s regime, political discussions began to escalate in Germany about the fate of Syrian refugees, especially with some statements that raised questions about their future.
The most prominent of these statements were from leaders of the far right, who called for their return to Syria, indicating that the situation in Syria had become more stable.
Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD), was one of the most vocal advocates for the return of Syrians, stating on social media that “those who celebrate a free Syria in Germany no longer have any reason to stay,” calling for their immediate return.
Markus Söder, leader of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria, expressed a similar position, noting that “when the reason for asylum is no longer there is no legal justification for Syrians to remain in Germany”.
In a controversial move, Jens Spahn, deputy leader of the Christian Democrats, proposed chartering planes to facilitate the return of Syrians who wish to return, with each receiving 1,000 Euros in assistance.
This comes as Germany prepares for elections in February 2024, and some politicians appear to be taking hardline stances on immigration in order to influence voters concerned about the impact of immigration on German society.
On the other hand, these statements were widely criticized by left-wing and green parties, as Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock considered these statements to be far from reality, noting that the situation in Syria is still unstable, and that hasty decisions regarding the return of refugees cannot be taken.
Baerbock considered that the security and political situation in Syria is still unclear, which makes the return of refugees impossible at the present time.
Jan van Aken, leader of the left-wing Die Linke party, also criticized the calls for deportation, saying they were part of populist agendas aimed at achieving electoral gains.
In a new development, the German Migration and Asylum Service announced the suspension of consideration of pending asylum applications for Syrians, numbering approximately 47,270 applications, noting that this decision came due to the lack of clarity in the situation in Syria.
The situation remains uncertain for Syrians in Germany, especially those who have integrated into society and hold important jobs such as doctors and nurses.
Returning to Syria is still not possible for many due to the unstable security situation in their country.
Currently, there are about 700,000 Syrians living in Germany, some of whom have been granted asylum or subsidiary protection.
While the suspension of asylum applications doesn’t necessarily mean a halt to accepting new refugees, the deportation policies adopted by some politicians may increase the sense of instability among Syrians.
