Overthrow has consequences

Insider: Asylum procedures for Syrians are being halted

Refugees apprehended in Burgenland at the beginning of November - illegal immigrants and smugglers are apprehended almost daily, especially in eastern Austria.

(Bild: Christian Schulter)

The overthrow of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad also has direct consequences for Austria. As the "Krone" learned in advance, all ongoing asylum procedures for Syrians will be halted and the situation reassessed. The measure has now been confirmed.

While the former dictator Assad has fled to Russia, where he was granted asylum on humanitarian grounds, his compatriots will no longer be granted this right in Austria for the time being.

Chancellor's order to the Minister of the Interior
For the time being, all asylum procedures for Syrian nationals will be put on hold, according to government circles. Confirmation came in the early afternoon: Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer had instructed Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (both ÖVP) to suspend all current Syrian asylum applications or to review all asylum grants.

12,500 Syrians have applied for asylum in Austria this year alone - several thousand procedures are probably currently underway. There are currently over 100,000 Syrians living in Austria.

Chancellor Nehammer and Interior Minister Karner: re-examine all Syrian asylum procedures.

(Bild: APA/Tobias Steinmaurer)

Politicians now sense an opportunity. The Foreign Ministry had already called for an "orderly and peaceful transition process towards a stable and inclusive political order" in view of the change of power in Syria. However, respect for human rights and the protection of ethnic and religious minorities are the top priority.

Calls for the return of tens of thousands of refugees to Austria were quickly heard from the FPÖ: With Assad's fall, the reason for asylum had ceased to exist, party leader Herbert Kickl said on Sunday. The new leadership of the country itself had already called on all Syrians to return.

Refugees apprehended in Burgenland at the beginning of November - illegal immigrants and smugglers are apprehended almost daily, especially in eastern Austria.

(Bild: Christian Schulter/Krone KREATIV)

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan - Turkey is home to millions of Syrians - addressed the refugees with the following words: It was now time to "unite and rebuild the country".

Political scientist Petra Ramsauer commented on the sentence "I am no longer a Syrian refugee, I am only Syrian" from a human rights activist on X with a heart:

"Historical turning point" possible
Some domestic experts also actually see a chance of easing tensions in the region: "In the medium term - if stability is established - this could be a historic turning point for the entire refugee situation, including in Europe," migration researcher Gerald Knaus is currently quoted as saying in Stern magazine. "Syrian refugees in neighboring countries will immediately have the chance to see whether it is safe again in their home country. If this is the case, asylum applications in Germany and other European countries will also decrease," says Knaus.

I would advise everyone to wait and see how the situation develops in the coming weeks.

Thomas Schmidinger, Nahost-Experte

Bild: Universität Wien

"I would advise everyone to wait and see how the situation develops in the coming weeks," said Middle East expert Thomas Schmidinger, however, already curbing the expectations of many. It is "naive" to assume that Syria will develop into a moderate and stable system in a short space of time.

Syrians celebrate the revolution worldwide. Islamist rebels took control of Damascus on Sunday night, heralding the end of more than two decades of rule by President Bashar al-Assad's family.

(Bild: AP)

Germany also puts asylum applications on hold
In the meantime, Germany has also announced that it will put asylum applications from Syrian citizens on hold for the time being. According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, there are more than 47,000 applications from our German neighbors.