Austria’s Controversial Measures Against Syrian Refugees Amid Rising Tensions
The Austrian government is taking measures to revoke the refugee status of approximately 2,900 Syrians, amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Syrian refugees express profound distress as family reunifications are halted, and many fear deportation. Government officials are advocating for mass checks of asylum seekers’ homes, while a financial incentive program aims to encourage voluntary repatriation to Syria.
In Austria, Syrian refugee Khaled Alnomman has been striving to integrate since he arrived ten years ago, mastering German and securing a job in construction. His children, feeling more Austrian than Syrian, faced unexpected turmoil when they received a notification from the government to revoke their refugee status. Alnomman expressed profound distress at this revelation, stating it felt like a “knife stab to the heart” as he struggles to process the situation.
The rise in anti-immigrant sentiment in Austria has been exacerbated by violent incidents involving individuals of Syrian descent, notably following a recent arrest related to a stabbing in Villach. Although another Syrian refugee was commended for his heroic action in that attack, Alnomman indicated that the negative repercussions for the Syrian community are severe, asserting that “we all have to pay” for the actions of a few.
Austria’s government, hosting nearly 100,000 Syrians, has gone beyond other European nations by halting family reunifications and beginning procedures to revoke the refugee status of approximately 2,900 individuals. The Interior Ministry aims to establish a deportation program to Syria, despite acknowledging the legal impossibility of such actions.
Amidst this climate, Conservative Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has advocated for legalizing mass checks of the residences of Afghan and Syrian asylum seekers in response to rising security concerns. This government coalition, under pressure from the far-right Freedom Party, is expanding the suspension of family reunifications beyond just Syrian refugees.
As distress deepens within the Syrian community, Alnomman remarked, “We cannot sleep at night. All Syrians are afraid now.” He conveyed a sense of despair and uncertainty, questioning the rationale behind the hostility they face.
The termination of family reunifications significantly affects many, including Ahmed Elgrk, whose hopes to reunite with his wife and five children were dashed after receiving a letter initiating the process to revoke his refugee status. After preparing to welcome his family, Elgrk lamented, “For four years I have told my family, ‘Just have a little bit more patience.’ It hurts my whole family.”
In a bid to encourage repatriation, the Austrian government has offered financial incentives of 1,000 euros ($1,050) to Syrians willing to return voluntarily; thus far, nearly 100 individuals have accepted this offer.
The situation for Syrian refugees in Austria is increasingly precarious, with government initiatives to revoke refugee status and halt family reunifications creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. The rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, coupled with recent violent incidents, has intensified the challenges faced by the Syrian community. With financial incentives for voluntary repatriation being offered, the future remains uncertain for these families who sought safety in Austria.
Original Source: www.france24.com
