The UK Home Office has confirmed to °®Âţµş it is pausing Syrian asylum claims in the wake of the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December but said it did not intend to deport Syrians for the time being.
Since 8 December, no official statement was issued by the UK government to clarify the new policy or its reasoning of the decision announced only through appearances by UK officials in the media.
Responding to a query from Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, °®Âţµş's Arabic sister edition, a spokesperson for the British Home Office, said, “The Home Office has temporarily paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation...We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.”
The statement said the decision to temporarily pause asylum decisions for Syrian applicants was made in line with actions taken by other European countries, including all members of the Calais Group – the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The Home Office said further action depends on ensuring a functioning government is in place, without which it would be impossible to determine whether it is safe for an individual to return to Syria.
However, the statement said the UK would continue to register new asylum claims from Syrian nationals while no one would ill be removed to their home country or any other nation where they would face persecution or serious harm.
MP Adnan Hussein has since criticised the UK decision and called on the international community to assist Syrians in every possible way.
The decision last week, including the United Kingdom, to suspend asylum applications for Syrians following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has raised questions about the rationale behind the move and the speed with which it was implemented—just two days after Assad fled to Russia.
Over the past decade, these nations have welcomed hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, who fled the devastating civil war triggered by the Syrian revolution. This conflict has resulted in the largest refugee crisis in Syrian and Middle Eastern history.
Angela Eagle, the British Minister for Borders and Asylum, explained in a recent interview with Sky News that the collapse of Assad’s regime has created uncertainty, making it difficult to fairly assess asylum claims at this time.
This stands in contrast to Austria, which has offered €1,000 to individuals willing to return to Syria voluntarily, and Denmark, which has proposed a more substantial offer of €27,000.
Abdul Aziz Al-Mashi, founder of the Solidarity with Syria campaign and a member of the Syrian British Council, criticised the UK government’s decision, calling it disgraceful and warning of its negative implications for Syrians.
Speaking to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, he said: “This decision has several dimensions. Economically, Syria’s economy has been nearly paralysed for years, and families heavily rely on financial support from relatives abroad. For instance, my family in Syria depends entirely on me. While I want to return to my country, doing so now would be selfish because my family would starve. This reality applies to most Syrians, not just those in Britain but across Europe.”
Al-Mashi also condemned the British government for advising its citizens to leave Syria due to safety concerns, labelling the move hypocritical. He asked: “If Syria is unsafe for British citizens, why is it considered safe for Syrian refugees?”
On the political front, Al-Mashi pointed out that Britain views Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organisation. “If that’s the case, why are they asking people to return? This is hypocrisy,” he said. He emphasised that refugees must be treated humanely and that any return to Syria should be voluntary, not coerced.
In recent days, Syrians across Britain have held celebrations, expressing their joy at the fall of the oppressive regime that ruled their country for five decades. The latest events took place in Sheffield, Leeds, and Brighton.
British media reported that Asma al-Assad’s parents, who lied in West London, fled the UK amidst developments in Syria and the opposition forces’ control of Damascus on 8 December. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy remarked that Asma al-Assad, who holds British citizenship, is no longer welcome in the UK.
During a celebration in Brighton organised by the Syrian community, Ahmed Yabrudi, head of the Syrian community in Sussex, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed: “There are many Syrians in Britain who have integrated into society, excelling in their education and professions. We also have a number of successful businesspeople.”
Yabrudi added: “The joy is overwhelming. For Syrians here, there is also a sense of liberation from restrictions. They now have the freedom to consider returning to their homeland, and some are already contemplating this step. We hope the British government will reconsider its plans to suspend residency grants or negatively impact Syrians’ legal status here.”
However, he noted that conditions in Syria remain unsuitable for return, citing the need to rebuild infrastructure and create job opportunities.
“We hope the British government considers these factors and gives Syrians here a chance,” he said, adding that some are still waiting for residency or academic qualifications. “We believe the government will take these matters into account.”
He concluded: “When we joined the Syrian revolution, we aspired to achieve full citizenship, equality, and justice, free from sectarianism. I hope Syria will one day rank among the world’s most advanced and distinguished nations. We have tremendous potential.”