European nations put asylum bids on hold

BERLIN — Britain, Germany, France and several other European countries said on Monday they would freeze all pending asylum requests from Syrians as hundreds of Syrian refugees gathered at two border crossings in southern Turkiye eagerly anticipating their return home.

While Berlin and other governments said they were watching the fast-moving developments in the nation, Austria signaled it would soon deport refugees back to Syria.

Far-right politicians elsewhere made similar demands, including in Germany, home to Europe's largest Syrian community, at a time when immigration has become a hot-button issue across the continent.

World leaders and Syrians abroad watched in disbelief over the weekend as Syrian opposition forces stormed Damascus early on Sunday, sparking uncertainty.

Germany has taken in almost 1 million Syrians. The country's interior ministry said on Monday it would not process asylum requests until there was more clarity on political developments in Syria. Britain paused decisions on asylum claims as well, with the interior ministry saying it was assessing the situation.

In Austria, where about 100,000 Syrians live, conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer instructed the interior ministry "to suspend all ongoing Syrian asylum applications and to review all asylum grants".

The French interior ministry said it too would put asylum requests from Syrians on hold, with authorities in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway announcing similar moves.

Britain's interior ministry said it was taking the same measure "whilst we assess the current situation".

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday that Turkiye will reopen a border gate with Syria in southern Hatay Province to facilitate the voluntary and secure return of Syrian refugees.

"We are opening the Yayladagi crossing to prevent overcrowding and facilitate traffic during the return (of Syrian refugees)," Erdogan said at a news conference after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara.

The Yayladagi crossing close to the northwest tip of Syria has been closed since 2013 due to fighting near the border.

While highlighting significant changes in Syria's sociopolitical landscape, Erdogan expressed optimism about the region's future.

In addition, hundreds of Syrian refugees gathered at two border crossings in southern Turkiye, the Cilvegozu border gate in Hatay and the Oncupinar border post in Kilis Province, to return to their homeland.

According to a UN report updated on Nov 30, approximately 3.7 million Syrian refugees live in Turkiye, making the country the largest host of Syrians who have fled the civil war.

Agencies - Xinhua