The Council of Europe (CoE), based in Strasbourg, has raised serious concerns about returning Syrians to their home country, stating that member states cannot assume “Syria is now a safe country” for refugees.
Michael O’Flaherty, the CoE’s human rights commissioner, warned that no state should deport Syrian asylum seekers if they face a real threat of death, torture, or inhumane treatment. In a statement released Tuesday, he criticized several CoE member states for suspending the processing of Syrian asylum claims and planning to return Syrians already under protection, arguing these actions may violate international refugee and human rights obligations, particularly the principle of non-refoulement.
O’Flaherty emphasized that due to Syria’s unstable situation, decisions about withdrawing refugee status must be carefully made based on evidence. He stated that protection should not be removed unless there are significant, lasting changes in Syria, and warned that those with a history of persecution should not be returned.
Furthermore, he insisted that any change in status should only follow a thorough human rights risk assessment. States must ensure that Syrians wishing to return do so voluntarily and with full knowledge of the situation. Should the circumstances in Syria worsen, CoE member states must offer real asylum options and prevent collective deportations.
