UK Resumes Syrian Asylum Reviews

The UK government has resumed processing asylum claims from Syrian nationals, ending a seven-month suspension that followed the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Asylum Minister Dame Angela Eagle announced the move, stating the Home Office had been working to lift the pause once reliable and objective information became available to make “accurate and well-evidenced determinations.”

This decision now opens the door to processing outstanding cases and potentially returning individuals to Syria under revised criteria.

BBC News has learned that over 20 Syrian nationals living in the UK have already returned voluntarily to Syria this year, and thousands more may now be eligible for return.

Officials are aiming to carry out the first enforced removals before the end of 2025, with one Home Office source suggesting such action is not “a million miles away.”

The updated Home Office guidance outlines a new framework for assessing Syrian asylum claims.

The original decision to freeze cases came last December, following the sudden fall of Assad’s government to a rebel coalition led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group designated as a terrorist organization by the UK.

Dame Angela explained in a statement that the pause had been necessary due to the lack of trustworthy information needed to assess whether it was safe for individuals to return.

During this period, more than 7,000 Syrians in the UK were left in legal limbo, with most residing in government-funded accommodations such as hotels.

The freeze also affected Syrians already granted refugee status, who typically receive temporary protection for five years before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Advocacy groups argue that this uncertainty made it harder for individuals to secure employment or stable housing.

Enver Solomon, head of the Refugee Council, welcomed the resumption of casework but cautioned that Syria remains unstable.

He urged the government to ensure that every case is reviewed individually, emphasizing the risks some may face if forced to return.

HTS now controls large parts of Syria, and its leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, was appointed interim president earlier this year.

Despite these political changes, the UK’s revised guidance notes that instability or lack of law enforcement alone does not automatically meet the threshold for asylum.

According to the Home Office, applicants must still demonstrate a specific and credible risk of persecution or serious harm.

The updated policy also addresses the conditions for religious and ethnic minorities.

It states that Kurds, Christians, Druze, and Shia Muslims are generally not at risk of persecution from the state.

However, Kurds in regions controlled by Turkish-backed rebel groups, such as the Syrian National Army, may face targeted harm due to their ethnicity or perceived political leanings.

Members of the Alawite minority—long associated with the former Assad regime—are also flagged as potentially vulnerable.

The guidance notes they may face significant risk from the new government, despite public assurances of safety.

In March, attacks against Alawites reportedly killed around 800 people, with HTS-linked groups believed to be involved.

The UK has gradually begun lifting sanctions on Syria and is reevaluating diplomatic ties.

Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary David Lammy became the first UK minister to visit Syria since the start of the civil war 14 years ago.

His meeting with President al-Sharaa helped pave the way for reassessing Syria’s safety for returns.

Although UK officials had previously expected a longer delay in restarting asylum processing, some European nations, including Austria, have already begun deporting Syrians.

This created pressure on the UK to act, amid fears that it could otherwise be seen as a more attractive destination for asylum seekers.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently raised concerns about migration “pull factors” in the UK during bilateral talks, referencing an agreement for balanced refugee intake between the two nations.

UK ministers maintain that many Syrians who originally fled under Assad may now wish to return.

The new guidance reflects this view, stating that former regime opponents are “unlikely to face risk solely on that basis.”

However, human rights advocates continue to warn that Syria’s situation remains volatile, and caution that premature returns could expose vulnerable individuals to renewed danger.

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