Damascus denies reports of 700,000 Syrian deportations from Germany

Nahla Othman, director of the Expatriates and Refugees Affairs Department at Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, rejected circulating claims that Germany intends to deport approximately 700,000 Syrian refugees. Speaking to SANA, she described the figure as baseless and stated it does not reflect the procedures currently implemented by German authorities.

Focus on residency and integration files

Othman noted that her comments followed a meeting with the German Interior Ministry in Berlin. She explained that discussions centered on the status of Syrians residing in Germany, specifically addressing residence permits, protection mechanisms, and integration processes.

The Syrian side is coordinating with the German government to explore changes in residence permit categories for individuals who have settled and integrated into German society. Additionally, efforts are underway to create opportunities for reviewing cases involving rejected applications, strictly adhering to existing laws and procedures within Germany.

Voluntary return emphasized in talks

A bilateral Syrian-German meeting took place in Berlin on September 25 to address the situation of Syrian residents. During these consultations, the German side affirmed that any review or withdrawal of protection status would not target Syrians collectively.

Berlin stressed that any potential return must be voluntary and dignified, requiring coordination between both parties. The dialogue aims to manage migration issues through structured negotiation rather than abrupt policy shifts.