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Decision by Denmark’s Refugee Appeals Board to refuse asylum to refugees from Damascus ignores the reality in areas under control of the Syrian regime, which is far from being anywhere close to conducive to return of refugees. [longer thread] 1/ https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/flygtningenaevnet-slaar-fast-forholdene-i-damaskus-er-saa-gode-at-syrere
The decision claims that “the current situation in Damascus is no longer such that there is reason to believe that anyone will be at real risk of being subjected to an infringement in violation of Article 3 of the ECHR". 2/
The ECHR is the European Convention on Human Rights, and Article 3 states that ‘no one shall be subjected to torture nor to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment’. 3/
The decision drastically contradicts the stream of documented reports about arbitrary arrests, forced recruitment, harassment, extortion and various forms of harassment faced by Syrians in Damascus and other areas controlled by the Syrian regime. 4/
Syrian Network for Human Rights @snhr documented at least 25 arbitrary arrests in Damascus and its surroundings in the month of May, while in June alone the number reached 112 arrests. 5/ http://sn4hr.org/wp-content/pdf/english/At_least_147_Cases_of_Arbitrary_Arrests_Documented_in_Syria_in_May_2020_including_10_Children_and_4_Women_en.pdf
SNHR and other human rights organisations have documented 684 cases of arbitrary arrest in Damascus and its surroundings since the beginning of this year. 6/ http://www.shaam.org/news/syria-news/ميليشيات-النظام-تنفذ-حملة-اعتقال-هي-الأضخم-جنوب-العاصمة-دمشق.html
Even a cursory research by the Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity’s own researchers revealed three such cases in the last month or so alone. 7/
The Danish decision clearly contradicts the reality faced by Syrians in Assad-held areas, but also the assessments of its fellow EU members, like Germany or Netherlands. 8/ https://www.dw.com/ar/ الخارجية-الألمانية-الوضع-في-سوريا-لا-يسمح-بعودة-اللاجئين/a-53779534
Crucially, it goes against the assessment of the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeppe Kofod, whose recent statement clearly states: „The regime is known for torture and arbitrary detentions. Countless Syrians live in terrifying uncertainty.“ 9/ https://twitter.com/DanishMFA/status/1277928685128089605?s=20
The Danish government must review this decision in the face of overwhelming evidence which clearly shows the flawed basis upon which it was made. 10/
The only way to ensure this is the case is through a comprehensive political solution, which will guarantee the rights of the displaced people with robust international guarantees. 11/
On this, let us quote the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs @JeppeKofod again: “Long term stability a negotiated end to the conflict. It requires the regime to change its behavior. The abuses the Syrian people rose up against. This must stop now.” 12/
We agree. Before contemplating any return, such abuses by the regime must stop. In Damascus and everywhere in Syria. Return of Syrian refugees must be safe, voluntary and dignified. 13/
Anything else, including partial returns which expose people to the same threats they fled from, is a recipe for disaster that will primarily affect Syrians, but will reverberate far beyond Syria and the region. 14/14/ https://medium.com/@SACD/denmark-is-setting-a-dangerous-precedent-which-must-be-reversed-eaa0b6d9a84b
