Greece reopens Syrian and Afghan asylum cases, hoping for returns | Migration News
Greece Reassesses Asylum Cases Amidst Migration Policy Changes
Athens, Greece – Bashir, a Syrian Muslim who has resided in Greece since 2014, faces an uncertain future. After marrying another Syrian in Greece and welcoming their first child three months ago, he believed his life was stabilizing. However, he recently received a notice from authorities requesting a restatement of his reasons for remaining in Greece and an explanation for why he should not return to Syria.
Bashir, who requested that his surname be withheld, initially gained asylum in Greece in 2015 due to the civil war in Syria. Following the end of the conflict in December 2024, his case is among 1,200 Syrian asylum applications being re-evaluated by Greek officials.
“It’s a catastrophe,” he told Al Jazeera. “I don’t understand how this can happen. If they decide I should leave the country, should my family stay here?”
His lawyer, Angeliki Theodoropoulou, noted that similar notices are currently being issued primarily to men from Syria and Afghanistan—another country that experienced a civil war and has seen significant changes in its governance.
“The decision appears linked to the European Union’s evolving stance on Syria and Afghanistan, coupled with the rise in voluntary returns,” Theodoropoulou said. She criticized the tightening of international protection for individuals from these regions, highlighting a decline in granted asylum cases and an increase in denials.
Bashir questioned the criteria used to declare Syria safe, especially in light of ongoing violence. Renewed clashes between the Syrian government and Kurdish forces have been reported, and Israeli attacks on Syrian territory continue sporadically.
Another Syrian, Jihad, who has lived in Greece since 2001, expressed concerns about returning to Syria due to his previous support for the Assad regime. “If they look at my Facebook or things I wrote in the past, they will send me to jail for sure,” Jihad said. “I’m afraid even to go to the embassy.”
Both men have clean criminal records, contribute to the economy, and wish to raise their families in Greece rather than return to Syria.
Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris announced in February a review of asylum cases that could potentially be revoked. Last year, Greece reversed the asylum status of nearly 200 individuals, a notable increase compared to previous years. Several existing cases are under assessment this year.
Reports indicate a religious dimension to these decisions, as Greece temporarily suspended asylum applications for mostly Muslim asylum seekers from Libya last year. During a parliamentary meeting, Plevris stated a preference for non-Muslim migrant workers, citing a lack of shared values principally linked to religion.
Greece has enacted stricter migration policies, including a new law that allows the government to imprison individuals who refuse deportation, with non-compliance resulting in fines and confinement in closed camps.
As Europe approaches the implementation of a new Asylum and Migration Pact, member states face pressures to develop robust return policies for rejected asylum seekers. Kristin Fabbe, chair in Business and Comparative Politics at the European University Institute, noted that the bloc struggles with executing large-scale returns.
Greece, positioned as a frontline state in the EU, currently has approximately 938,000 legally resident migrants among its 10.3 million population, including over 137,000 recipients of asylum or international protection. Concerns about future refugee inflows remain heightened due to instability in the Middle East and North Africa.
The stark reality of Greece’s hardening immigration policies reflects broader changes in the political landscape across Europe, as governments grapple with how to manage migration effectively while adhering to legal obligations.
