Austria is set to become the first European Union country to forcibly deport a Syrian national since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, in a case that has sparked alarm among rights groups and could set a precedent across the bloc.
The man, a 32-year-old who was granted asylum in Austria in 2014, lost his refugee protection in 2019 following a criminal conviction. His legal adviser, Ruxandra Staicu, confirmed that deportation proceedings are now underway, although she declined to detail the nature of his offense.
Austria’s Interior Ministry has not publicly commented on the case. However, both Staicu and a Western diplomat said that an agreement on deportation had already been reached between Austrian and Syrian authorities, with the process delayed only by regional airspace closures linked to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
If completed, the deportation would mark a first for the EU since Assad’s ouster late last year, as most member states had previously blocked returns to Syria due to the country’s prolonged civil war and widespread instability.
Pressure Mounts Amid Rising Anti-Migrant Sentiment
The move comes amid growing political pressure across Europe to tighten asylum and immigration rules. In Austria, the conservative-led government has faced mounting challenges from the far-right Freedom Party, which has made migration control a central campaign issue.
Former Chancellor Karl Nehammer and other ruling party figures have pushed for a reassessment of Syria’s security status, claiming conditions have improved since the regime change. Austria has already begun reviewing and revoking the asylum status of certain Syrians with criminal records.
But human rights groups warn that such moves are premature and dangerous.
“Syria remains deeply unstable,” Staicu said, citing ongoing violence, attacks on minorities, and lack of legal protections. “This deportation would violate the European Convention on Human Rights, which forbids sending people to countries where they risk torture or inhuman treatment.”
Humanitarian Concerns Persist
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has reiterated its opposition to forced returns to Syria under current conditions.
“Syrians must not be forcibly returned from any country, including those in the European Union, to any part of Syria,” a UNHCR spokesperson told Reuters, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis and lack of guarantees for basic safety.
Since 2015, over 1.6 million Syrian asylum applications have been filed across Europe, with Germany and Austria among the top destinations. While initial public support was high during the height of the conflict, shifting political winds have fueled restrictive policies and debates over long-term integration.
Rights organizations also point to worsening conditions inside Syria, despite the collapse of the Assad regime. According to the UN, over 90% of the population remains below the poverty line, and sporadic violence continues across much of the country.
The man facing deportation has filed a new asylum application and is currently awaiting a decision, Staicu said.
If Austria proceeds with the removal, observers say it may embolden other EU states considering similar moves—raising legal, moral, and humanitarian questions about Europe’s post-war posture toward Syria.