Some of the Syrians who fled to Germany may have to return to their homeland under certain conditions, German Interior Minister Nancy Feser told the newspapers of the "Funke" media group, quoted by DPA and BTA.
"As stipulated in our law, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) will review and withdraw the protection granted if people no longer need such protection in Germany, as the situation in Syria has stabilized" Feser said in a statement released today.
The minister stressed that this would apply to those who do not have a right to stay for other reasons, such as work or education, and do not return to Syria voluntarily.
The Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry are working together to gain a clearer picture of the situation in Syria following the overthrow of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad.
"We are particularly focused on security issues," Feser noted. The German government is also working closely with European and international partners.
"Those who are well integrated, have a job, have learned German and have found a new home here should be allowed to stay in Germany," Feser said. People who want to return should be supported. Criminals and Islamists should be deported as quickly as possible. The legal possibilities for this have been significantly expanded and will be used as soon as the situation in Syria allows it, she added.
According to data from Feser's ministry, around 975,000 Syrians currently live in Germany. Most of them arrived after 2015, fleeing the civil war in Syria. Over 300,000 of them benefit from so-called subsidiary protection (with humanitarian status - ed. note). So they were not admitted to the country due to individual persecution, but because of the civil war in their homeland.
Due to the dynamic development of the situation in Syria, the BAMF recently decided to temporarily suspend decisions on asylum applications from people from Syria.