Asylum seekers who’ve been ready greater than a 12 months for an consequence to their functions have informed BBC News they’re “depressed” and “terrified” by the Home Office’s choice to pause claims.
Hussam Kassas fled Syria in 2016 after he and his household had been “personally focused” by Bashar al-Assad’s regime resulting from his work documenting human rights abuses and collaborating in protests.
The father-of-two stated he anticipated his household to be granted refugee standing, however the UK’s pause on claims had left him unsure and vulnerable to shedding his residence and work.
The Home Office has stated the transfer was made “while we assess the present state of affairs” after the fast fall of the regime.
Between 2011 and 2021, greater than 30,000 Syrians had been granted asylum within the UK – however on Monday the Home Office stated it was now not potential to evaluate excellent instances given the change in circumstances there.
It means the federal government has not decided whether or not Syria, underneath the brand new rebel-led authorities, is a protected nation which individuals may very well be despatched to. It has careworn individuals won’t be despatched to Syria whereas the method is ongoing.
Mr Kassas is among the many 6,500 individuals the Home Office has stated might be impacted by the pause – and who the Refugee Council warned may very well be “caught for months” with their standing in limbo.
The 36-year-old, who lives in Greater Manchester and is an investigator with the UK-based Syrian British Consortium advocacy group, stated his pupil visa expires subsequent month – leaving him unable to work and lease.
“All of these individuals who got here from Syria must be supported, must be empowered, to beat what occurred to them over the last 14 years, not unsure once more, not feeling unsafe once more.”
Mr Kassas fled from Syria to Jordan in 2016 earlier than transferring to Turkey together with his spouse and youngster. He was granted a pupil visa within the UK in August 2023 and utilized for asylum just a few weeks later.
Speaking about his experiences throughout Syria’s civil battle, he stated: “I’ve been injured in my household home, my household home has been destroyed by barrel bombs and mortar shells.
“At one occasion they beat my father till he was out of [consciousness] to ship me to them.”
Mr Kassas stated he was “sure” he and his household can be “threatened” in the event that they returned to Syria, voicing issues that deposed president Assad’s supporters and forces are nonetheless current within the nation.
“I do not like being a refugee, I’ve a homeland, I’ve a proper to get again there. But underneath the circumstances I don’t consider I will go. I can’t danger my youngsters’s security, I can’t danger my spouse’s,” he informed BBC News.
Syria’s capital Damascus and far of the nation is now managed by a insurgent coalition, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS), which is proscribed as a terror organisation by the UK authorities and others.
Earlier this week, cupboard minister Pat McFadden stated the UK may take away HTS from the checklist of banned terrorist teams – however Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer later stated it was “far too early” to think about a change of coverage.
BBC News additionally spoke to Hamid, not his actual identify, who fled the Assad regime in 2013, after he supported humanitarian work within the nation.
After transferring to Lebanon and Turkey, he arrived within the UK as a pupil and utilized for asylum in late 2023.
The father-of-two, who lives within the West Midlands, stated the pause to asylum claims had left him “anxious” and his spouse in tears.
“Currently with their choice, they’re affecting hundreds of people who find themselves already struggling. [Syrian asylum seekers] can’t return but as a result of it isn’t but protected, they can not settle right here on the identical time, they are going to be nowhere for an unknown time period.”
Hamid urged the federal government to proceed making asylum selections till they will make a greater evaluation of the security of Syria for asylum seekers.
“I wish to ask them to make use of logic. After 13 years of a really sophisticated battle, we can’t say in someday that we have to reassess.
“I used to be actually comfortable for the autumn of the Assad regime. At the identical time, the subsequent day we obtained this information and to be sincere, I used to be actually depressed, pissed off.”
Abdulaziz Almashi, a Syrian refugee who has settled within the UK and campaigned on behalf of asylum seekers, additionally echoed issues.
“It’s not cheap, it isn’t reasonable, it is unacceptable to be sincere,” he stated.
“We are actually nervous how briskly the British authorities and European governments are to eliminate Syrians… This is inhumane, and we do not assume anybody ought to go residence now.”
A Home Office spokesperson stated: “The Home Office has quickly paused selections on Syrian asylum claims while we assess the present state of affairs.
“We maintain all nation steering regarding asylum claims underneath fixed assessment so we are able to reply to rising points.”
