UK Government Halts Syrian Asylum Claims Decisions Following Assad’s Removal

December 10, 2024 TruthUSA

The most recent data from the UK Home Office reveals that in the year leading up to September 2024, 5,548 Syrians sought asylum in the UK, with 4,069 being granted protection during the same period.

Following the removal of President Bashar al-Assad, the UK Home Office has halted the processing of asylum applications from Syrian nationals.

British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that decisions on asylum claims will be postponed while the situation in Damascus continues to evolve, following the example of countries like Austria, Germany, Sweden, and France.

Cooper mentioned, “We are aware that the situation in Syria is rapidly changing after the ousting of the Assad regime. There have been reports of people returning to Syria. There is a dynamic situation that we need to closely monitor.

“That is why, similar to Germany, France, and other countries, we have suspended asylum decisions on cases from Syria while the Home Office evaluates and monitors the current circumstances.”

A Home Office spokesperson added that the department will continuously review all guidance related to asylum claims to address emerging issues.

Asylum Claims

Millions of Syrians have fled their country since the start of the civil war 13 years ago, and the UK has granted refugee status to thousands of them in the past decade.

The latest statistics from the Home Office indicate that 5,548 Syrians applied for asylum in the year leading up to September 2024, with 4,069 receiving protection during that time frame.

Among asylum claims in the year up to September 2024, applications from Syrians ranked fifth in number, following those from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Bangladesh. Almost all claims from Syrians are initially granted refugee status.

A House of Commons Library research briefing from September revealed that between 2014 and June 2024, around 20,000 Syrians have been resettled in the UK through various programs.

The EU has also accepted a significant number of Syrian asylum seekers, with Syrians being the largest nationality to apply for asylum in 2023, with 186,580 applications across the 27 EU nations.

During a session in the House of Commons on Monday evening, Foreign Secretary David Lammy appeared to be unaware of the government’s decision to halt the processing of asylum claims on the same day.

In response to a query from Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice about whether the UK would mimic Germany in pausing applications, Lammy stated, “That particular matter has not been brought to my attention in recent hours. The focus has been on addressing the humanitarian needs in the country and supporting neighbors.”

Asma al-Assad ‘Not Welcome’

The Assad regime fell over the weekend after more than a decade of civil war sparked by the 2011 Arab Spring. Rebels led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured Damascus on Sunday, ending 54 years of rule by the Assad family.

Russian state media confirmed that the former 59-year-old president has received political asylum in Moscow, along with his wife Asma al-Assad and their three children.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy at a press conference during a visit with U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 11, 2024. (Leon Neal/PA Wire) — Foreign Secretary David Lammy at a press conference during a visit with U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 11, 2024. Leon Neal/PA Wire

In the context of the Syria situation, when further inquiries were made in the Commons, Lammy affirmed that Asma al-Assad, who was born and educated in London, is considered a “sanctioned individual and is not welcome in the UK.”

In response to questions about whether the former Syrian president’s wife, as a British citizen, might try to return to the UK, Lammy clarified the government’s stance.

Lammy’s comments followed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stating that it was premature to decide whether Asma al-Assad would be deprived of her British citizenship.

Proscribed Group

There appears to be confusion within the government regarding how to address the Islamist group HTS, the rebels who have taken control in Syria.

Starmer noted during a diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday that there was currently no pending decision on whether to remove HTS from the list of banned groups.

These statements came after Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden suggested earlier in the day that consideration would be given to how to handle HTS.

On Tuesday, Downing Street clarified that despite being labeled a proscribed terrorist group, engaging with HTS in the future is not off the table.

The prime minister’s spokesperson explained that engagement could involve discussions to encourage the designated group to participate in peace talks or facilitate humanitarian aid delivery.

The spokesperson added, “We regularly review proscribed organizations and closely monitor the situation.”

HTS originally emerged as the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate, and was banned in the UK due to its ties to the group founded by Osama bin Laden. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani previously held a position within al-Qaeda but claims to have severed connections with the organization years ago.

In 2014, al-Golani expressed a desire for Syria to be governed under Islamic law, excluding Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Shiite minorities. However, he has since attempted to portray his group as moderate and inclusive.

This report includes contributions from PA Media.

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