Danish premier expects Syrian refugees to return home

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AA) – Syrian refugees in Denmark should return to their home country now that conditions have changed following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the Danish premier has said.

Mette Frederiksen’s remarks came during the Prime Minister’s Question Time in response to a query from Inger Stojberg, chairman of the Danish Democrats.

“You are a refugee temporarily when conditions make it impossible to live where you come from,” Frederiksen said. “When those conditions change, I firmly believe and encourage people to return to their country to help rebuild it. I would do the same myself.”

The prime minister stressed that many Syrians in Denmark do not hold permanent residency and said: “Therefore, of course, we expect them to go back now.”

About 35,000 Syrian nationals live in Denmark more than a decade after conflict broke out in Syria.

On Monday, Copenhagen announced that it would temporarily halt the processing of 69 ongoing cases involving individuals from Syria. This decision came amid the uncertainty surrounding Syria’s political future following the fall of the Assad regime over the weekend.

In a statement, the Refugee Appeals Board’s Coordination Committee cited the volatile situation in Syria as the primary reason for the pause in case processing.

“Given the evolving situation in Syria, we have decided to pause the processing of cases involving Syrian nationals,” it said. “The Coordination Committee will reassess the situation in January 2025 and make decisions based on the latest developments.”

Additionally, the committee said it would delay the deadlines for individuals from Syria who are currently facing deportation. This includes cases where the Refugee Appeals Board has upheld decisions to refuse residence permits under section 7 of the Aliens Act, or where permits have been revoked, refused for extension, or have lapsed.

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus early Sunday, signaling the collapse of the Baath Party regime, which had been in power in Syria since 1963.