The UK government has halted all decisions on Syrian asylum claims following the unexpected collapse of the Assad regime over the weekend.
The Home Office announced the pause to allow time to reassess the rapidly evolving situation in Syria.
“The Home Office has paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation,” the department confirmed in a statement. “We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.”
This decision aligns with similar actions taken by Germany, Greece, and Austria, which have also suspended processing asylum applications for thousands of Syrians.
The conflict in Syria has displaced millions, with the majority seeking refuge in Turkey and neighbouring countries.
In the UK, Syrians accounted for the fifth-largest number of asylum claims in the year ending September 2024, following applicants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Bangladesh. Official statistics show that 99% of Syrian asylum claims were approved at the initial decision stage.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer announced an additional £11 million in humanitarian aid earlier today to support the most vulnerable Syrians, including the hundreds of thousands displaced by the ongoing conflict.
In Parliament, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed Foreign Secretary David Lammy to ensure that no asylum claims are accepted from former members of the Assad regime, many of whom are accused of human rights abuses.
“The Conservative government called for President Assad to go over a decade ago, and few will shed any tears at this vile tyrant’s removal from office,” Patel told MPs.
“While Assad may have sought sanctuary in Russia, we look to the foreign secretary to explain what steps are being taken to gather evidence of the crimes his reprehensible regime is responsible for and to bring him to justice.
“Can he confirm that, despite Assad fleeing to Russia to claim asylum, there will be no asylum claims from former members of the Assad regime in this country?”
The UK government has consistently condemned the Assad regime’s human rights violations. With the regime’s collapse, attention is turning to ensuring accountability for crimes committed during the conflict.
The Home Office and the Foreign Office are expected to outline further measures to address these issues in the coming weeks.
This pause in asylum decisions marks a critical juncture as the UK navigates its response to the evolving political and humanitarian crisis in Syria.
