Syrian asylum seekers ‘terrified’ after House Place of business pauses claims

BBCHussam Kassas, who fled Syria in 2016, says he’s susceptible to dropping his jobAsylum seekers who’ve been ready greater than a 12 months for an end result to their packages have instructed BBC Information they’re “depressed” and “terrified” via the House Place of business’s determination to pause claims.Hussam Kassas fled Syria in 2016 after he and his circle of relatives had been “for my part focused” via Bashar al-Assad’s regime because of his paintings documenting human rights abuses and taking part in protests.The daddy-of-two stated he anticipated his circle of relatives to be granted refugee standing, however the United Kingdom’s pause on claims had left him unsure and susceptible to dropping his house and paintings.The House Place of business has stated the transfer was once made “while we assess the present scenario” after the speedy fall of the regime.Between 2011 and 2021, greater than 30,000 Syrians had been granted asylum in the United Kingdom – however on Monday the House Place of business stated it was once now not conceivable to evaluate exceptional instances given the exchange in cases there.It approach the federal government has no longer made up our minds whether or not Syria, beneath the brand new rebel-led government, is a protected nation which individuals might be despatched to. It has stressed out other folks may not be despatched to Syria whilst the method is ongoing.Mr Kassas is without doubt one of the 6,500 other folks the House Place of business has stated might be impacted via the pause – and who the Refugee Council warned might be “caught for months” with their standing in limbo.The 36-year-old, who lives in Better Manchester and is an investigator with the UK-based Syrian British Consortium advocacy crew, stated his scholar visa expires subsequent month – leaving him not able to paintings and hire.”All of the ones individuals who got here from Syria want to be supported, want to be empowered, to triumph over what came about to them all through the ultimate 14 years, no longer unsure once more, no longer feeling unsafe once more.”Mr Kassas fled from Syria to Jordan in 2016 ahead of transferring to Turkey along with his spouse and kid. He was once granted a scholar visa in the United Kingdom in August 2023 and carried out for asylum a couple of weeks later.Talking about his studies all through Syria’s civil struggle, he stated: “I’ve been injured in my circle of relatives area, my circle of relatives area has been destroyed via barrel bombs and mortar shells.”At one match they beat my father till he was once out of [consciousness] to ship me to them.”Mr Kassas stated he was once “sure” he and his circle of relatives could be “threatened” in the event that they returned to Syria, voicing considerations that deposed president Assad’s supporters and forces are nonetheless provide within the nation.”I do not like being a refugee, I’ve a place of birth, I’ve a proper to get again there. However beneath the cases I don’t consider I can cross. I can no longer possibility my youngsters’s protection, I can no longer possibility my spouse’s,” he instructed BBC Information.Syria’s capital Damascus and far of the rustic is now managed via a insurgent coalition, led via the Islamist crew Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS), which is restricted as an apprehension organisation via the United Kingdom govt and others.Previous this week, cupboard minister Pat McFadden stated the United Kingdom may take away HTS from the checklist of banned terrorist teams – however High Minister Sir Keir Starmer later stated it was once “a long way too early” to imagine a transformation of coverage.BBC Information additionally spoke to Hamid, no longer his actual title, who fled the Assad regime in 2013, after he supported humanitarian paintings within the nation. After transferring to Lebanon and Turkey, he arrived in the United Kingdom as a scholar and carried out for asylum in past due 2023.The daddy-of-two, who lives within the West Midlands, stated the pause to asylum claims had left him “frightened” and his spouse in tears.”Recently with their determination, they are affecting hundreds of people who find themselves already suffering. [Syrian asylum seekers] can’t return but as a result of it is not but protected, they can’t settle right here on the similar time, they’ll be nowhere for an unknown time frame.”Hamid advised the federal government to proceed making asylum choices till they are able to make a greater evaluate of the security of Syria for asylum seekers.”I need to ask them to make use of common sense. After 13 years of an overly difficult struggle, we can’t say in in the future that we want to reconsider. “I used to be truly satisfied for the autumn of the Assad regime. On the similar time, tomorrow we won this information and to be truthful, I used to be truly depressed, annoyed.”Abdulaziz Almashi, a Syrian refugee who has settled in the United Kingdom and campaigned on behalf of asylum seekers, additionally echoed considerations.”It is not cheap, it is not real looking, it is unacceptable to be truthful,” he stated. “We’re truly nervous how briskly the British govt and Ecu governments are to eliminate Syrians… That is inhumane, and we do not suppose someone will have to cross house now.”A House Place of business spokesperson stated: “The House Place of business has quickly paused choices on Syrian asylum claims while we assess the present scenario.”We stay all nation steering in terms of asylum claims beneath consistent overview so we will reply to rising problems.”

Author: OpenAI