Two weeks after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum in Austria sent letters to Syrians with open procedures for withdrawal of protection status, BTA reports.
Syrian refugees who have been in the country for less than five years are affected.
What do the procedures entail?
According to the documents, the refugees must explain in new interviews why they still need protection, despite the changed circumstances in Syria. They must also prove that:
- They can support themselves financially.
- They have children integrated into the education system.
- They are socially adapted to Austrian society.
The letters state that after the fall of the Syrian regime, these people "no longer have to fear political persecution."
Risk of withdrawal of status
The Austrian authorities specify that protection status can usually be withdrawn within five years if the original grounds for granting it have changed fundamentally and there are no new reasons for maintaining it.
International reaction
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UN: The High Commissioner for refugees warned against hasty steps to return Syrian refugees to their homeland, highlighting the precarious situation there.
- EU: For its part, the European Union states that the conditions for safe and voluntary return have not yet been met.
Affected groups
According to Austrian media, including ORF and the magazine “Profil“, around 40,000 people fall into the group of people whose status is to be reviewed.
The review of the protection status is raising concerns about the fate of thousands of Syrian refugees in Austria. While there have been changes in the circumstances in Syria, the international community is warning of the danger of hasty decision-making that could endanger the lives and futures of those affected.