UK Resumes Processing of Syrian Asylum Claims
The UK government will resume the assessment of Syrian asylum applications, marking a significant step after a hiatus lasting over seven months that followed the collapse of the Assad regime.
Asylum Minister Dame Angela Eagle stated that the Home Office has worked diligently to lift the suspension as soon as sufficient information became available for informed decision-making. Updated guidance has been released for officials to assist in evaluating Syrian asylum claims.
The pause in processing asylum and permanent settlement claims began in December following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), during ongoing civil unrest. In her written statement, Dame Angela highlighted that the suspension was necessary due to the lack of stable and objective information to accurately assess the risks associated with returning to Syria.
This decision left over 7,000 Syrians in a precarious situation, awaiting verdicts on their asylum claims, with many of them residing in government-funded accommodation like hotels. The pause also impacted those who had previously been granted refugee status, who were initially permitted to reside in the UK for five years before being eligible for permanent settlement. Advocates argue that this temporary status complicates securing employment and housing.
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council charity, welcomed the decision but expressed concerns about the ongoing instability in Syria. He emphasized that every asylum application should be reviewed on an individual basis to ensure the safety of Syrians at risk upon return.
Following HTS’s rise to power, the interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has been appointed. According to the United Nations Refugee Convention, an individual seeking asylum must demonstrate a “well-founded fear of persecution.” The Home Office’s new guidance states that general instability does not automatically qualify as a basis for asylum and stresses that cases must be evaluated on their specific circumstances.
The updated policy implies that, with the regime’s change, former opponents of President Assad may not face return risks solely due to their past affiliations. Nonetheless, it raises concerns for religious minorities, such as Kurds and Alawites, who may experience persecution based on ethnicity or political views. Recent violence against the Alawite community, which left approximately 800 individuals dead, underscores these risks. Earlier this month, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a historic visit to Syria, marking the first visit by a UK minister since the civil war ignited fourteen years ago.
