What happened in Syria?
The regime of President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by a mixed rebel group in December 2024. This is led by the Islamist militia Hajat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), with Abu Muhammad al-Jaulani at its head. The former Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, fled to Moscow with his family after taking power.
What does this mean for Syrians in Germany?
The regime from which hundreds of thousands of Syrians have fled no longer exists. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has therefore decided to postpone decisions on asylum applications from Syrian citizens until further notice. According to the BAMF, this affects around 47,270 pending asylum applications, including around 46,000 initial applications.
Refugees who have already been recognized are not affected by this measure; their protection status remains unchanged for the time being. However, there are suggestions in politics as to whether incentives should be created for a return to Syria, for example in the form of entry fees or charter flights.
There are currently more than 974,000 Syrians living in Germany. Around 712,000 of them are considered to be seeking protection. Syrians have made up the largest proportion of people coming to Germany as refugees since 2015. By the end of 2023, around 160,000 Syrians will have acquired a German passport.
How does this affect the reunification of Syrian families?
As decisions on asylum applications are suspended, this could also have an impact on family reunification. Without a positive asylum decision, family reunification is generally not possible. This could delay or temporarily stop family reunification.
What's next for Syrians in Germany?
There is currently no order that Syrian citizens must leave Germany. The suspension of asylum decisions does not automatically mean that existing residence permits will expire or that repatriations will take place. The German government has emphasized that the situation in Syria is still too dynamic to make decisions on returns.
What happens next in Syria?
It is still unclear what will happen in Syria. We must first wait and see whether a stable government can be formed or whether the new situation could even lead to new refugee movements. It is therefore advisable to keep a close eye on further developments and obtain information on the current situation from the relevant authorities.
