Austria Plans First Forced Deportation to Syria Since Fall of Assad

Austria is preparing to deport a Syrian man whose asylum status was revoked after a criminal conviction, marking what rights groups and an EU official say could be the first forced deportation to Syria since the fall of President Bashar Assad’s government.

Rights organizations warn that Austria’s move could set a dangerous precedent, prompting other EU countries to consider similar actions amid growing anti-migration sentiments across the bloc.

The 32-year-old man, who was granted asylum in Austria in 2014, lost his refugee status in February 2019 due to a criminal record, according to his legal adviser. She declined to specify the nature of his conviction.

Deporting him to Syria was previously deemed unsafe during the country’s ongoing civil war. However, Austrian authorities argue that the change in Assad’s regime means the situation has improved sufficiently to allow such deportations. As a result, Austria has begun proceedings to revoke some refugee statuses.

Last week, Austrian and Syrian officials reportedly agreed to proceed with the man’s deportation. However, the process was delayed by airspace closures caused by the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. A Western diplomat confirmed that the deportation will move forward once air traffic resumes.

Since 2015, European nations have received approximately 1.68 million asylum applications from Syrians fleeing civil war. Initially, countries like Germany welcomed many of these refugees, but mounting public concern over immigration levels has fueled support for far right and anti-migrant parties.

Following Assad’s fall last December, many EU countries temporarily halted processing Syrian asylum claims and called for a reassessment of the security situation in Syria to enable deportations to restart. In Austria, former government officials and political figures have advocated for such a reassessment, amid pressure from far-right parties.