Austria says it is reviewing the status of Syrian refugees
By Francois Murphy Austria says it is reviewing the status of Syrian refugees VIENNA – Austria is reviewing the status of Syrian refugees who arrived less than five years ago, Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on Thursday after media reports that some had been notified by letter that they “no longer have to fear political persecution”. Nehammer, a conservative who is trying to form a new coalition government while under fire from the far right, pounced on the fall of Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, saying the same day that the security situation in Syria should be reviewed so as to allow deportations there. Since then he and his caretaker government have clarified that their initial focus will be on voluntary deportations, with those volunteering to return home being offered 1,000 euros. Austria is also among more than a dozen European countries to suspend the processing of Syrians’ asylum claims. “Austria … is now reviewing the eligibility for protection of Syrians who have been in the country for less than 5 years,” Nehammer said on X. …
