European nations have halted asylum applications from Syrians following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government, France 24 reported on Monday. According to the report, the move affects thousands of pending claims and reflects both Syria’s uncertain political future and growing anti-immigration sentiment across Europe.
Germany, which hosts nearly one million Syrians, announced it would temporarily stop processing asylum requests to assess developments in Syria. Britain, Norway, Austria, Denmark, and Greece have implemented similar suspensions, while France is expected to follow.
Germany reported 72,420 Syrian asylum applications this year, with 47,270 still unresolved. The Interior Ministry stated decisions will depend on Syria’s stability. Denmark extended stays for rejected applicants, citing the current uncertainty. Meanwhile, Greece is preparing to freeze 9,000 applications pending government review.
Advocacy groups warn the asylum freeze may delay decisions for months. In the UK, Foreign Minister David Lammy cautioned that political instability in Syria could prompt renewed migration into Europe.
