A new Danish policy has come into effect as the government of Denmark has declared its intent to deport at least 94 Syrian refugees back to their home country, saying that the decision stems from the government's belief that certain areas in Syria are no longer dangerous to live in.
Aya is one of 94 refugees whose Danish residencies are canceled & face deportation to Syria.
— mhmd (@MohamedHemish) April 2, 2021
She’s spent years in Denmark, learned Danish & almost completed high school.
What more does a refugee need to do to prove “worthiness” & “integration”? https://t.co/IwYnWHw6G4 pic.twitter.com/kPvCPeEjna
Despite stirring strong criticism from human rights groups and organization, the Danish government has defended its decision to deport Syrian refugees who hail from the Syrian capital and its surrounding areas, saying that "an asylum seeker loses their legal status once it is no longer risky for them to be back."
The backlash against statements made by the Danish Minister for Integration, Mattias Tesfaye, attacked the policy saying that most refugees have already been starting to integrate into the Danish society for years, they have acquired education, learned the language, and took decent jobs, and that the decision to send them back to Syria to live under the same political regime that persecuted them during the first years of the civil war is only going to leave them in limbo.
19 y/o Aya found out that she would not be able to finish high school in three months because her Danish residency had been revoked and she has to leave Denmark.
— Alysia Alexandra (@AlysiaAlexndra) April 5, 2021
In an interview she asked @tv2newsdk "What have I done wrong?". pic.twitter.com/pmfMPP2RPy
Meet Asmaa and Omar.
— Alysia Alexandra (@AlysiaAlexndra) April 5, 2021
Their Danish residencies have been revoked while their two sons may stay in Denmark.
They risk saying goodbye to their sons forever because Denmark claims it is safe enough for them to return to Syria. pic.twitter.com/5cNHAHhfWS
Online people have also been posting photos of refugees who have received revocation letters along with personal stories, many of which show how successful they have been starting their lives in Denmark.
Additionally, social media users have widely shared the story of Akram Bathiesh, a refugee who has died of a heart attack shortly after receiving the notification of his residency being canceled. According to his family and friends, Bathiesh was terrified of going back to Syria where he had been in prison for his political stances.
Tragic story from Denmark. Syrian refugee Akram Bathiesh dies of a heart attack after receiving the decision of the Danish authorities to withdraw his residence permit and asylum status and give him a month to leave Denmark to Syria. pic.twitter.com/roNJbQV0zs
— Mazen Hassoun (@HassounMazen) April 5, 2021
Denmark is the first EU nation to decide to send Syrian refugees home alleging better circumstances for them in Syria. Previously, Germany had decided to send back Syrian refugees with criminal records in Germany.
According to official records released in 2017, more than 40k Syrians were living legally in Denmark, including ones with temporary residency permits.
