HUNDREDS of Syrian asylum seekers in Scotland have been left scared, stressed, and facing an uncertain future after the UK Government “paused” their claims.
After the fall of despot Bashar al-Assad, the Labour Government swiftly moved to block any asylum applications from Syrians from progressing further, despite having the lead rebel group on their list of banned terror organisations.
Families immediately had appointments with the Home Office cancelled, Maryhill Integration Network human rights and advocacy coordinator Pinar Aksu told The National, leaving them in a state of shock.
Aksu said: “One mother started to cry, and we tried to calm her down, and she just kept saying, ‘why?’
“‘Why is this happening? What did we do wrong? We've been waiting for a long time, and now we just don't know what the future holds for us.’”
Similar families now face indefinite waits to find out if their claims will progress, and may have to wait still longer for new appointments, Aksu said.
She went on: “The stress that it’s causing on people, that's not being thought through. There is already the stress of ongoing war and trauma for more than 10 years. The last thing people need is to hear this.”
The UK Government’s move is estimated to have hit 6500 people in the UK asylum system, according to the Electronic Immigration Network. Just under 700 of them are thought to be in Scotland.
The situation on the ground in Syria remains uncertain after rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) deposed Assad. Millions had fled his brutal regime after a pro-democracy uprising was crushed in 2011 and celebrations were seen in European streets after he fell.
“It's not the right thing to do,” she added.
“To have a rhetoric to say that we're putting a pause on asylum claims, it's just ridiculous.
“We have people who are waiting in the asylum process, who've built a community for many years, and then to be told that they’re putting a pause on the claims, but at the same time, you are welcome to return [to Syria].
“I think it's just unacceptable. We shouldn't be living in a society where this is normalised.”
A spokesperson for Action for Humanity, the parent charity behind Syria Relief – the largest Syria-focused NGO in the UK, said they were “gravely concerned” by the Labour Government’s decision to pause asylum decisions.
“The dismantling of the Assad regime toppled half a century of abhorrent atrocities, but it doesn’t wipe the legacy of that violence,” they said. “It is too early to know how the situation will evolve, but millions of people will wake up tomorrow, still cold, without food and water.
“The UK has an obligation under international human rights law to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers aren't returning to a situation where their lives would be in critical danger. They will still need the support of humanitarian agencies, and those in our vibrant Syrian community in the UK will still need our compassion.
“The UK must continue to provide support and refuge for the people of Syria until such that returns can be truly voluntary, safe and dignified.”
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has said in a public statement that “anyone seeking international protection must be able to access asylum procedures and have their application examined fully and individually on its merits, in accordance with appropriate, procedural safeguards”.
It added that a suspension of “processing of asylum applications from Syrians is acceptable as long as people can apply for asylum and are able to lodge asylum applications”.
“Until there is clear guidance published on the security and human rights situation in Syria, we ask that anyone affected by this suspension should as an absolute minimum retain their rights to accommodation and financial support until the Government is in a position to progress their applications”, he said. “The Government must prioritise this and it cannot be used as an excuse to leave even more people in endless limbo, especially those who have fled the horrors and suffering of the pervious Syrian regime.
“Each asylum application must be considered on its own merit and its own evidence and any suspension on decision making should only be for a strictly limited time.
“This is a time to show solidarity with people from Syria, to support the individuals and families here in the UK as they come to terms with a new transition, and to stand alongside them in hope for a peaceful and stable future.”
The Home Secretary has said that guidance related to decisions on Syrian asylum claims is under “constant review” as the UK continues to monitor the “fast-moving” situation.
Making a statement to the Commons, Yvette Cooper said: “We welcome the fall of the Assad regime, but we continue to monitor closely this fast-moving situation where there is significant risk of instability.
“Considering this, I have taken the decision to temporarily pause decisions on Syrian asylum claims. All five Calais group countries [UK, France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands] have taken the same decision.
“We will, of course, continue to keep all guidance relating to these asylum claims under constant review, and we will keep the House updated in the normal way.”
