UK ministers are facing calls to begin making decisions on Syrian asylum applications, as the UK froze decision-making on claims for Syrian asylum and permanent residency in December, the BBC reported on May 26th.
The pause on decision-making occurred following the ouster of former Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad. But now that over five months have passed, Syrians in the UK are still waiting for their claims to be processed.
A Home Office insider described this as “a necessary step while there is no stable, objective information available to make robust assessments of risk” about people going back to Syria. They added that the policy “will remain under constant review.”
As global ties with Syria’s new leadership shift, Middle East Eye via Reuters reported on April 24th the UK lifted sanctions on Syrian ministries and intelligence units.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa, now Syria’s leader, urged for the full removal of sanctions enforced during Bashar al-Assad’s leadership. He labelled them a penalty for violations carried out by the prior administration.
Experts regard the UK’s decision as a significant diplomatic step, although many maintain it remains symbolic without US policy change. Chris Doyle, from the Council for Arab-British Understanding, stressed the US must ease banking limits to create real impact.
The Refugee Council as well as other charities have said the circumstances mean that people are in an “indefinite limbo.” The charities are urging officials to reevaluate claims one by one.
By the end of March 2025, 7,386 Syrians awaited a first decision on asylum claims, according to the most recent data. In December 2024, the Conservatives asserted that the majority of Syrian asylum requests were linked to the threat presented by Assad’s regime. They stated those individuals could go back once conditions were safe.
Haytham Alhamwi, chairman of the Syrian British Consortium, stated many Syrians fled Assad’s regime, but some might “feel unsafe to return.”
Reportedly, Syrian asylum claims decreased by 81% after the UK decided to pause processing. The suspension also affects Syrians whom the UK originally allowed to live in the country for five years after granting them refugee status.
BBC, Middle East Eye via Reuters
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