After all counter-terrorism operations that took place in Sirya, in April 2021, Denmark became the first European country taht revoked the residence status for Siryan refugees. That decision was based on a report which shows that some parts of Syria are now safe enogh for refugees to return, said the autorities from Copenhaga. Denmark – which does not formally recognise the government of Bashar al-Assad, faced condemnation from EU lawmakers, the UN refugee agency and human rights groups.
“The whole idea is to send a message to both refugees who are here and people who are not here yet: Don’t come to Denmark,” says Karen Nielsen Breidahl, associate professor in political science at Aalborg University.
Since 18 th of May, hundreds of Syrian refugees have extended their sit-in demonstration in front of the Danish parliament into a third week, protesting measures aimed at returning them to the war-ravaged nation.
“I still don’t believe what is happening. I don’t know how to convince them that Syria is still in conflict. Actually, things are getting even worse because Assad is going to be re-elected,” Yacoub recently said in a podcast produced by Crossing Borders, a non-profit organisation that focuses on educating and empowering communities across cultures.
No country can be presumed “safe” and returning people can have serious consequences for their lives. Denmark must respect the principle of non-refoulement, provide protection to asylum seekers and comply with its obligations under international law.
Source: www.bbc.com , www.aljazeera.com , www.cphpost.dk