The federal government has paused all choices on Syrian asylum claims following the fast fall of the Assad regime over the weekend.
The Dwelling Workplace mentioned the transfer had been made “whilst we assess the current situation”.
“The Home Office has paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation,” a press release mentioned.
“We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.”
The transfer comes after Germany, Greece and Austria additionally paused asylum purposes for 1000’s of Syrians.
The battle in Syria had compelled hundreds of thousands of individuals to flee the nation, with the bulk heading to Turkey and different neighbouring nations.
Dwelling Workplace statistics present Syrians generated the fifth largest quantity of asylum claims within the 12 months ending September 2024 – behind Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Bangladesh.
Politics newest: UK ‘intensely targeted’ on Syrian transition amid fears of IS resurgence
Some 99% of claims have been granted at preliminary determination.
Earlier at the moment Sir Keir Starmer introduced an additional £11m in humanitarian assist for probably the most weak in Syria, together with the a whole lot of 1000’s who’ve been displaced within the battle.
Within the Commons at the moment, Dame Priti Patel, the shadow international secretary, requested her counterpart David Lammy whether or not the federal government may guarantee there can be “no asylum claims from former members of the Assad regime in this country”.
She informed MPs: “The Conservative government called for President Assad to go over a decade ago, and few will shed any tears at this vile tyrant’s removal from office.
“Whereas Assad might have sought sanctuary in Russia, we glance to the international secretary to clarify what steps can be taken to collect proof of the crimes his reprehensible regime is accountable for, and the actions being taken to deliver him to face justice.
“Can he confirm that despite Assad fleeing to Russia to claim asylum, there will be no asylum claims from former members of the Assad regime in this country, many of whom will be associated with human rights abuses?”
Europe debates what to do about Syrian refugees
Elsewhere in Europe at the moment, the German inside ministry introduced all asylum purposes from Syrian nationals can be placed on maintain till there was extra readability on the political scenario within the war-torn nation.
Some senior leaders of Germany’s opposition, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), urged encouraging Syrians to return residence, drawing criticism from politicians from the chancellor’s occasion who mentioned it was inappropriate to be having a home debate a day and a half after the Assad regime fell.
A snap election is predicted early subsequent 12 months with the conservative CDU and far-right Various for Germany occasion (AfD) projected to get probably the most votes.
A ballot on Friday confirmed that migration is the second-biggest fear for Germans.
In neighbouring Austria, the place a backlash in opposition to an inflow of refugees continues to gas far-right and conservative events, the caretaker authorities ordered a halt to processing Syrian asylum purposes.”
Household reunification, a coverage the place refugees households can be a part of them, can also be on maintain.
Mr Lammy mentioned it was “premature” to debate resettlement schemes for Syrian refugees and that the federal government was working to report human rights offences carried out by the Assad regime.
“We have not got a diplomatic presence in Syria at this time, and indeed, the Syrians do not have a diplomatic presence here in the UK.
“So recording these actions just isn’t easy, however after all, we proceed to work, as she would count on, with NGOs and civil society to help them of their efforts.”
He added: “She raises the problem of Syrian resettlement. Let me simply say that that’s untimely. This Home, on a cross-party foundation, has sought to help the humanitarian wants of Syrians.
“We recognise the displacement next door in Lebanon, in Jordan, in Turkey and in Iraq and neighbouring countries, and of course, we will continue to support people in those refugee camps and through the humanitarian aid that we support in the country at this time.”
The profitable offensive in opposition to the Assad regime that culminated in its downfall was led by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), a Syrian insurgent group, that’s at the moment proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK authorities.
Bashar al Assad, who took over from his father to rule Syria for twenty-four years, fled to Russia after the occasions of the weekend and is reportedly now in Moscow.
Alongside the US and different Western allies, the UK is at the moment contemplating whether or not to take away HTS from its proscribed record of terrorist organisations.
HTS was a wing of al Qaeda referred to as the Nusra Entrance and has lengthy been designated a terrorist group by the US, UK and Russia.
Its founder, Abu Mohammed al Jolani, lower ties with al Qaeda in 2016 in an effort to seem average and in 2021 he mentioned he had no need to wage battle in opposition to Western international locations.
The prime minister has mentioned it’s “too early” to resolve whether or not to take away HTS from the record and that “no decision is pending on this”.
He was echoed by Mr Lammy, who mentioned the federal government would “judge HTS by their actions”.
