Amnesty International: Denmark’s decision to return Syrian refugees is unacceptable and should be reversed

Amnesty International called on “Amnesty”, Denmark, to reverse the decision to cancel the temporary protection status of Syrians, stressing that “an unreasonable decision, and the targeting of refugees who were forced to flee their homes and families must end.”

“After fleeing from a war zone, they now face the stark possibility of returning voluntarily to Syria or transferring them to return centers pending deportation, while the fate of hundreds of others remains unknown,” said the organization’s Europe director, Nils Moinex.

“Forcing these refugees, some of them children, to return to Syria, even indirectly, would expose them to the risk of torture and other serious violations,” Moinex added, noting that “placing refugees in return centers indefinitely, without finding work.

Or education, pressuring them to return, as people in return centers in Denmark are not allowed to work or pursue their education, given their status as irregular immigrants, and they are also ineligible for government benefits.

The organization explains that many Syrian refugees whose residence permits have been revoked by the Danish authorities may face torture, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention if they are forced to return to Syria.

The organization realizes that 39 people have received a final decision on their case, and are at risk of deportation once Denmark restores diplomatic relations with the Assad regime, according to a report issued by the organization on Monday, April 26.

And Denmark had stripped at least 380 Syrian refugees of their residence permits or did not renew their residence permit at the Danish Immigration Service, and they were required to return to so-called “safe areas” in Syria, this April.

Source: Agencies