The Violation Documentation Center of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Speech has released this Thursday a statement warning that the recent decisions of the Danish government related to deporting Syrian refugees to Damascus is within the framework of the indirect refoulement that is prohibited by international law.
On 26 September 2020, the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration had declared an inclusive reassessment of cases of refugees coming from areas controlled by the Syrian regime and the withdrawal of the temporary protection residency in preparation of their return, which was based on the resolution of the Refugee Council in December 2018 indicating the improvement of the security situation in Damascus governorate and areas controlled by the government in general.
The Violation Documentation Center commented in its statement saying that this decision: “the decision violates the general legal principle of respecting the voluntary character as the cornerstone of the refugees repatriation”. Furthermore, such decisions form huge threats against those who are wanted who are wanted by the Syrian regime. The Violation Documentation Center in Syria has documented systematic violations by Syrian Security Forces including the use of torture and extrajudicial executions, which raises serious concerns for their lives, freedom and safety. That is in addition to the economic situation and the restriction of the work of the United Nations agencies and the organizations.
Within this context, Khalid Al-Ibrahim, a member in Caesar Families Association, expressed his fears from the recent steps taken in Denmark, especially since the authorities have notified him that: “they acquired information reporting the safety of Damascus, and he continued saying: “they opened my file for a reassessment” where he fears: “calling me again to inform me with the withdrawal of my residency”.
Al-Ibrahim, who was a resident of Damascus and considered as a safe city by the Danish government, arrived at his current asylum on 21 September 2014 where he later obtained a humane asylum in February 2015. He continued saying that until the date of the present report: “I did not commit any misconduct nor have I been brought to the police for committing any contravention or a misdemeanour”.
Several Syrians have received a communication from the Supreme Refugee Council in Denmark related to reopening files of Syrian refugees for a new assessment.
Some of the papers from the Refugee Council FLYGTNINGENÆVNET, which is the higher judicial authority, indicated their use of recent reports of the Syrian Observatory confirming the absence of documenting any case in which an employee who returned to Syria has been punished outside recognized laws. In addition, they have been communicating with lawyers based in Damascus who confirmed that those who leave their workplace without resigning will not face issues of accountability.
Al-Ibrahim had always called for protests against the Syrian regime in Denmark, and he left his job in Damascus without notifying the responsible body. That is aside from him being a brother to one of Caesar Victims; Al-Ibrahim recognized the photo of his brother who died under torture in the regime’s prisons.
Moreover, Al-Ibrahim contacted the Association of Prisoners and Missing Persons and authorized them to file a lawsuit against the regime disapproving that: “I will be sent back to Damascus and I have filed a case against the regime!”.