Austria is moving to revoke the refugee status of about 2,900 Syrians amid rising anti-migrant sentiment, particularly following a violent incident involving a Syrian. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has proposed strict measures, including mass checks on asylum seekers and halting family reunifications. Refugees express fear about their status and uncertainty ensues within the community, as some are offered incentives to return to Syria voluntarily.
Khaled Alnomman, a Syrian refugee in Austria, has diligently integrated into society over the past decade, mastering the German language, securing employment as a bricklayer, and seeking Austrian citizenship. His children, particularly the youngest who was born in Austria, have come to identify more as Austrians than Syrians. However, their lives were disrupted after receiving a notice from Austrian authorities indicating a move to revoke their refugee status, which Alnomman described as a “knife stab to the heart.”
The rise in anti-migrant sentiments in Austria has intensified following an incident where a Syrian was arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy. Despite a Syrian heroically intervening in the attack, Alnomman remarked that this incident negatively impacts the Syrian community as a whole, stating, “Because of this idiot, now we all have to pay.”
In December, several European nations froze asylum requests following the ousting of the Assad regime, while Austria took more stringent measures by ceasing family reunifications and initiating the revocation of refugee status for approximately 2,900 individuals. Asserting the necessity for “an orderly repatriation and deportation programme to Syria,” Austria’s Interior Ministry acknowledged that immediate deportations are both unlawful and impractical.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced plans for “random mass checks” on the homes of Afghan and Syrian asylum seekers and pledged his commitment to reducing migration. This initiative follows the far-right Freedom Party’s rise, which has intensified pressure on the coalition government to further restrict family reunification for refugees of all nationalities.
Experts in asylum law have clarified that the notifications regarding refugee status do not imply an imminent removal of rights for Syrians. However, the community remains profoundly unsettled, with Alnomman expressing that “We cannot sleep at night. All Syrians are afraid now,” highlighting the pervasive anxiety among the Syrian population in Austria.
The suspension of family reunifications has particularly affected individuals such as Ahmed Elgrk, a food delivery rider who has been separated from his wife and five children for four years. Despite preparing to welcome them to Austria after obtaining the necessary documentation, he was disheartened to receive notice that his family would not be granted visas. “It hurts my whole family,” he lamented.
The Austrian government has also incentivized voluntary repatriation by offering 1,000 euros to willing Syrian returnees, with nearly 100 individuals having accepted the offer so far, amidst growing pressures on the refugee community.
The situation for Syrian refugees in Austria has become increasingly precarious, with government actions signaling a crackdown on asylum rights amid rising anti-migrant sentiments. The revocation of refugee statuses, halted family reunifications, and the new policies under the current government create an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear for many Syrians. This environment raises significant concerns regarding their future in Austria.
Original Source: www.france24.com
