Berlin Reviews Syrian Refugees' Status After Fall of Assad Regime
German Policy Moves Towards Comprehensive Review of Syrian Refugees, Focusing on Integrating Settled Individuals and Returning Those No Longer Needing Protection
January 5, 2025, 10:17 pm

Berlin Reviews Syrian Refugees' Status After Fall of Assad Regime

الجولاني في استقبال وزيري خارجية فرنسا وألمانيا \ متداولة

German Interior Minister Nancy Weser reviewed the possibility of returning some Syrian refugees to their country under specific conditions.

Weser highlighted in statements published by the "Funke" media group on Sunday, January 5, 2025: "According to our law, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees will review and cancel protection grants if persons no longer need this protection in Germany due to stabilization of the situation in Syria".

The German official, belonging to the Social Democratic Party led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, stated that this procedure will apply to those without other reasons for residence such as work or study, who refuse voluntary return to Syria.

She emphasized coordination between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior to form a more comprehensive view of the Syrian landscape after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, confirming "we are focusing particularly on security issues".

Weser clarified that German authorities will grant residence rights to those integrated into society, working, and proficient in the German language, while providing assistance to those wishing to return, indicating the necessity of deporting criminals and extremists as quickly as possible.

Interior Ministry statistics indicate approximately 975,000 Syrians in Germany, most of whom arrived after 2015 due to the Syrian conflict, including over 300,000 with subsidiary protection granted due to war rather than individual persecution.

The Federal Office for Migration has temporarily frozen the processing of Syrian asylum applications, given the rapid developments in Syria.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”