Syrian asylum claims will be processed again after months of limbo

Syrians who have endured months of limbo can finally have their asylum claims processed, the Government has announced.

Applications were paused after the fall of the brutal Assad regime in December. But asylum minister Dame Angela Eagle has confirmed decision making can resume.

It comes as Syrian refugees visited Parliament to urge the Government to resume processing amid ongoing uncertainty about the new regime. Fareed Fakhoury, who is currently seeking asylum, said ahead of an event hosted by Asylum Matters: “This uncertainty has gnawed away at our mental health - my wife and four boys bear the scars of war and displacement, and now we’re forced to relive that anxiety here, day after day.

“Planning for the future feels like trying to build on quicksand. Legal support is out of reach so far, my children’s education is on shaky ground, and we’re shut out from society in ways big and small."

Mum-of-three Afraa Hashem, a survivor of detention and the war in Aleppo, said: "Although I’m physically safe, the instability in my home country weighs heavily on me."

READ MORE: Keir Starmer to have secretive catch-up with Donald Trump during Scotland golfing holiday

Haytham Alhamwi, Chairman of the Syrian British Consortium said: "Behind every delayed case is a person, often a family, living in limbo, unable to move forward with their lives. Many have already built their lives in the UK, contributing to their communities and calling this country home."

In December despot Bashar al-Assad, who had ruled Syria with an iron fist, fled to Russia leaving a vacuum in his wake. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper paused processing asylum cases so the Government could see what happened next.

In an update to MPs, Dame Angela said: "This was a necessary step while there was no stable, objective information available to make robust assessments of risk on return to Syria. The Home Office has worked to lift the pause as soon as there was sufficient information to make accurate and well-evidenced determinations.

"Today the government will publish updated country information which will enable decision making to resume. With this, protection claims can be processed and safe return reviews conducted in line with published policy for any Syrian nationals applying for settlement protection."

The decision has been welcomed by human rights groups. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “We welcome the Government restarting decision making on Syrians’ asylum applications. We know the pause in decision making had left Syrian people trapped in further limbo, unable to work, move on with their lives and fearing for their future.

“However, the situation in Syria continues to be unstable, and we urge the Government to ensure that every asylum application is assessed on a case-by-case basis, ensuring the safety and protection of Syrians who would face extreme risk if they are returned.”

READ MORE: Join our Mirror politics WhatsApp group to get the latest updates from Westminster