Denmark contradicts own report on Syrians, says Danish Refugee Council

LONDON (AA) – The Danish Refugee Council accused its government on Tuesday of endangering Syrian refugees by revoking their residence permits although they risk abuse and persecution if they return to Syria.

The Danish Immigration Service published a report earlier this year, saying Syrians are at risk of being exposed to persecution, problems with Syrian authorities and are at risk of being detained at checkpoints, according to media outlet DR.

The report said Syrian authorities continue to arrest, detain, interrogate, torture, extort and kill refugees who return.

But the Danish Refugee Council said immigration authorities do not include those facts to a sufficient extent in their decision-making when revoking refugee residence permits in the Nordic country.

“It is a huge problem that, in our opinion, the Danish Immigration Service’s report on persecution and abuse does not stand as a weighty reason in itself for granting a residence permit. It shows that the authorities are not taking it seriously enough,” said Eva Singer, head of Asylum at the Danish Refugee Council, according to DR.

A report from the EU published in September and reviewed by the Danish Immigration Service, concluded that returning Syrians are subjected to interrogations, arrests, rape and torture, said DR.

But when it comes to case processing, the information is being significantly ignored, according to the Danish Refugee Council.

The Danish Immigration Service informed DR that the agency’s report is included as background information in general in case processing.

Singer, however, said that the Danish Immigration Service and EU reports are clear evidence that no Syrians on the run should have their residence permits revoked, said DR.