Austria suspends asylum procedures for Syrians

By Timo Kirez

GENEVA (AA) – Following the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Austria has suspended all asylum procedures for Syrians, according to the country’s interior minister.

Gerhard Karner Karner told public broadcaster ORF on Monday that the suspension of asylum procedures was done at the direction of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

The Interior Ministry further clarified that all asylum applications that have already been granted will also undergo review.

“In this context, I have instructed the ministry to prepare an orderly repatriation and deportation program to Syria,” Karner told ORF.

Family reunification will also be suspended, Karner explained. He noted that 7,300 open asylum procedures are affected by the decision.

From this January to November, 12,871 asylum applications were submitted by Syrian citizens, Karner added.

According to the state statistics office Statistik Austria, 95,180 Syrians were residing in Austria at the start of 2024. This makes them the largest group of people entitled to asylum in Austria.

Statistics Austria data shows that nearly 87,000 Syrians received a positive asylum decision in Austria from 2015 to 2024.

The figures also indicate that 17,421 Syrians were granted subsidiary protection.

“The political situation in Syria has changed fundamentally and above all rapidly in recent days,” Karner told ORF.

The ministry is currently monitoring and analyzing the new situation, he added.

A reassessment of the situation, which is necessary for the further processing of asylum applications, is being carried out “through a survey of the situation on the ground,” Karner said.