Faber blocks Syrian asylum seekers from visiting homeland before return
Syrian asylum seekers in the Netherlands will not be allowed to visit their home country to assess whether they can safely return, despite a motion from the Tweede Kamer urging the government to allow such trips. Minister of Asylum Marjolein Faber (PVV) has rejected the proposal, citing conflicts with asylum law, as reported by AD.
Last month, the Tweede Kamer passed a motion from GroenLinks-PvdA and CDA calling for a “go and see” program, similar to those in Germany, France, and Turkey. These programs allow Syrian refugees to temporarily visit their home country without affecting their asylum status or residency permits. NSC, part of the ruling coalition, also supported the motion.
Under the proposed plan, one family member per household would have been able to travel independently to Syria, similar to a policy used in the 1990s for Bosnians. The visits would have allowed them to check whether their homes survived the war or were destroyed.
Faber, who opposed the idea from the outset, told the Tweede Kamer in a letter that she discussed the motion with the ministerial council last Friday. She concluded that the plan is incompatible with asylum law.
“If a Syrian asylum seeker or residence permit holder returns and is safe there, then the asylum-related fear no longer exists,” Faber stated.
The government believes that return visits should have consequences. If a Syrian with an ongoing asylum request or a residence permit travels back, they could lose their right to asylum or residency. Faber also dismissed concerns over destroyed homes, stating that property damage is not a valid reason for asylum.
The Dutch government does offer assistance for Syrians who choose to return permanently. This includes covering the cost of a flight to Damascus and providing 900 euros in cash. However, returnees must sign a document renouncing their asylum claim and surrender their residence permit. So far, around 300 Syrians have applied for this assistance. Of those, 130 have already returned to Damascus.
