Call for freeze on Syrian asylum claims to finish as 1000’s nonetheless in limbo

Ministers are dealing with calls to begin processing Syrian asylum packages once more, as new figures confirmed greater than 7,000 persons are nonetheless in limbo.

The UK paused selections on Syrian claims for asylum and everlasting agreement in December, after the autumn of President Bashar al-Assad.

But greater than 5 months on, Syrians in the United Kingdom nonetheless have no idea when their claims will likely be assessed.

Charities together with the Refugee Council say the present state of affairs has left folks in an “indefinite limbo” and are calling for claims to be processed once more on a case-by-case foundation.

The authorities stated selections had been paused “while we assess the current situation”.

A Home Office supply stated this used to be “a necessary step while there is no stable, objective information available to make robust assessments of risk” on folks returning to Syria and the coverage “will remain under constant review”.

A complete of 7,386 Syrians had been looking ahead to an preliminary determination on an asylum declare through the top of March, consistent with the newest figures printed on Thursday.

Assad’s regime used to be overthrown through a revolt offensive led through the Islamist militant team Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in December, after years of civil struggle.

HTS chief Ahmad al-Sharaa used to be named as Syria’s intervening time president previous this 12 months, however the state of affairs stays unsure and HTS remains to be designated a terrorist team through the United Kingdom.

In December, the Conservatives advised maximum Syrian asylum claims had been associated with the risk posed through Assad’s authorities and the ones folks may go back when it used to be protected to take action.

However, Haytham Alhamwi, chairman of the Syrian British Consortium, stated whilst many Syrians left as a result of Assad’s rule others would possibly nonetheless really feel unsafe to go back.

“Many of them are still calling for democratic change in Syria, which is not guaranteed at the moment. Some of them were afraid of those military groups, they didn’t come running from Assad himself,” he advised the BBC.

The choice of Syrian asylum claims fell through 81% following the United Kingdom’s determination to pause selections.

However, in spite of a pointy drop, 299 Syrians got here to the United Kingdom on small boats within the first 3 months of this 12 months – 5% of the full choice of arrivals.

People claiming asylum don’t most often have the appropriate to paintings whilst their case is being regarded as and are supplied with government-funded lodging and fiscal improve to pay for necessities if they’d another way be destitute.

Jon Featonby, leader coverage analyst on the Refugee Council, stated that in addition to leaving Syrians “stuck in limbo” this additionally had an affect at the taxpayer as the federal government is paying to deal with lots of them.

More than 5,500 Syrians had been dwelling in government-funded lodging on the finish of March.

Of those, 2,130 had been in inns, which the federal government has pledged to prevent the use of for asylum seekers.

With Labour promising to transparent the entire backlog of asylum claims, Mr Featonby stated the placement used to be inflicting a “blockage” within the gadget.

Azadi – no longer his actual title – arrived in the United Kingdom through small boat in June 2023 and is looking ahead to a choice on his asylum utility.

The 25-year-old, who’s Kurdish, stated he used to be thankful to the United Kingdom authorities for offering him with meals and lodging however he sought after so to paintings and pay tax.

“I stay at home a lot of the time,” he advised the BBC. “Every day is the same. I am not progressing so it is stressful.”

Earlier this 12 months, the brand new Syrian authorities signed a take care of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which built-in its army and civilian establishments into the state and recognised the Kurdish minority.

But Azadi stated he didn’t consider the brand new authorities and felt Syria used to be no longer protected for Kurds, who had been denied elementary rights all the way through Assad’s rule.

He stated his fatherland have been destroyed through the civil struggle and there used to be no means for him to get an training there.

“It’s not a life there at all,” he added.

The pause additionally applies to Syrians who’ve already been granted refugee standing and had been first of all given the appropriate to stick in the United Kingdom for 5 years prior to they are able to follow for everlasting agreement – often referred to as indefinite depart to stay.

The Refugee Council says that while this team nonetheless have the appropriate to are living and paintings in the United Kingdom, their transient standing can regularly make it more difficult to protected a task or housing.

Mr Featonby stated Syrians in the United Kingdom had been additionally fearful about whether or not they’re going to be allowed to stick if the federal government’s place on Syria adjustments and it’s deemed a protected nation.

Leen Albrmawi arrived in the United Kingdom in October 2019 and carried out for indefinite depart to stay final 12 months.

However, she stated her “whole life collapsed” when the federal government paused selections for Syrians in December.

The 28-year-old have been permitted to review trade at college however used to be advised she used to be no longer eligible for a scholar mortgage as a result of she didn’t have the appropriate to are living in the United Kingdom completely.

After spending the final 5 years acquiring the important {qualifications} to use, Leen used to be devastated she may no longer manage to pay for to take in the be offering.

Meanwhile, her employer, a telecoms corporate, has been chasing her for an replace on her depart to stay utility.

Leen nonetheless has the appropriate to paintings whilst her utility is pending however is worried she may lose her activity.

She additionally fears that if the Home Office adjustments its place on Syria she may well be pressured to depart the United Kingdom.

“I literally have no one in Syria, no family, nothing,” she advised the BBC, including that her fatherland have been destroyed within the civil struggle.

Leen lives in Salford together with her mom and sister, who have already got British citizenship as they got here to the United Kingdom previous than her.

“I’ve been in the UK now nearly six years, so I’ve built my whole life here,” she stated.

Mr Featonby stated the Refugee Council recognised the placement in Syria had modified however there used to be not likely to be readability on how protected the rustic can be sooner or later anytime quickly.

He advised individuals who had been looking for coverage for causes unrelated to the former regime will have their claims prioritised.