First Asylum Revocation Procedures for Syrians Initiated in Austria
According to a report by "Profil" online, the letters initiating the procedure for the revocation of asylum have been sent to Syrians who have been living in Austria for less than five years. They are now required to explain to the authorities why they consider themselves worthy of protection despite the changed circumstances.
Asylum Revocation Procedure: Federal Office for Asylum and Foreign Affairs to Act Immediately on "Substantiated Decision Basis"
With the fall of the Syrian regime, they "no longer have to fear political persecution," the letter states. At the appointment, the affected individuals can now cite further reasons for asylum and demonstrate that they can support themselves, have children in school, and are well integrated. If the reasons for asylum fundamentally change and no other reasons exist, the protection status can generally be revoked within five years. Currently, this group includes around 40,000 individuals.
"As soon as a substantiated decision basis is available, a decision is made immediately in these cases," the Federal Office for Asylum and Foreign Affairs (BFA) is quoted in the report. Chancellor Karl Nehammer had instructed Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (both ÖVP) in early December to suspend all ongoing Syrian asylum applications or to review all asylum grants. However, BFA Director Gernot Maier clarified shortly afterwards that due to the "very volatile situation" it was currently not possible to make decisions on returns to Syria. The Federal Administrative Court, which acts as the second instance in asylum proceedings, also recently assessed the situation as "very unstable".
UNHCR Urges Restraint in Asylum Revocation Procedures
The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, meanwhile, urged restraint in a statement issued on Thursday. In its view, revocation procedures are premature, as 90 percent of the population in Syria is dependent on humanitarian aid, lacking water, food, and healthcare, infrastructure is destroyed, and the security situation is difficult. The current approach is causing great uncertainty among Syrian refugees, and the UNHCR fears that the current approach will have negative effects on integration and coexistence. Instead, the states should provide support in Syria to enable appropriate conditions for a safe return in the foreseeable future, the international organisation appealed.
(APA/Red)
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