On the occasion of the German government's plans to persuade the majority of Syrian refugees living in Germany to return, Misereor warns of the consequences. Even more than a year after the fall of the Assad regime, Syria is not a safe country. Violence, persecution, a lack of rule of law and massive human rights violations continue to characterise the everyday lives of many people.
"Anyone who talks about a safe or even voluntary return to Syria today is ignoring the reality and consciously accepting that people will once again find themselves in mortal danger," explains Mariana Ghawaly Giacaman, an expert on displacement and migration at Misereor. Following the visit of the Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa to Berlin yesterday and the statements by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz that he wants to persuade up to 80 per cent of Syrian refugees to return, the Syrians affected in Germany are very worried. "The plans and figures presented yesterday on planned repatriations ignore the continuing precarious security and human rights situation in Syria," says Ghawaly Giacaman.
No security, no rights, no prospects
Armed clashes, targeted attacks on religious and ethnic minorities, as well as reports of torture, abductions, arbitrary and sexualised violence in recent months clearly show that the protection of the civilian population is not guaranteed in many regions of the country. Women, children and minorities are particularly at risk. At the same time, there is a lack of functioning state structures, an independent judiciary and an effective investigation into human rights offences.
"There is neither transparency nor a functioning justice system in Syria today that guarantees people's rights. According to United Nations reports, government forces are involved in sexual and gender-based crimes - including the abduction of women and girls. Against this backdrop, it is not only premature to talk about a "safe return" - it is dangerous," explains Rola Alrokbi, herself a Syrian and head of the Misereor partner organisation Women Now for Development, which works with Syrian women refugees in Lebanon. She urgently warns against making political decisions over the heads of those affected.
Transitional justice in Syria has so far focussed almost exclusively on dealing with crimes committed by the former Assad regime. Victims of violence by other armed actors have no prospect of justice. According to Misereor expert Ghawaly Giacaman, this selective administration of justice deepens social divisions and prevents genuine reconciliation.
Repatriations exacerbate violence and instability
In a recent position paper on the categorisation of Syria as a safe country of origin(Safe return? What Syria's categorisation as a safe country of origin would mean), Misereor warns that deportations to Syria would not only endanger individuals, but would also encourage new violent conflicts and further exacerbate social tensions. At the same time, categorising Syria as a "safe country of origin" would undermine international standards of refugee protection - with a signal effect far beyond Syria.
Misereor is currently supporting projects in Syria with funding totalling over three million euros in the areas of healthcare, trauma management, primary education, peace work, emergency aid and basic social services.
