Syrian Government Rejects Forced Return of Diaspora in Germany, Calls Community a “Strategic Asset”
- 7 hours ago
- 1 min read
Syria has dismissed calls for mass repatriation of its citizens living in Germany, emphasizing the diaspora’s role as a vital resource for the country.
Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani described Syrians abroad as “strategic national assets” and stressed that any return should be voluntary. He said engagement with the diaspora is key to Syria’s reconstruction efforts and pledged to provide safe conditions for those choosing to return.
Al-Shaibani noted that the Syrian community abroad represents “a message to the world that Syrians are one people,” highlighting their potential economic and political contributions.
His comments come after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested that up to 80 per cent of Syrians in Germany could return home within three years, a figure later denied by Syrian authorities.
Germany hosts the largest Syrian population in the EU, and the Merz administration has hinted at stricter migration policies. However, NGOs warn that instability in Syria makes rapid deportation unsafe.
Political sociologists point to the diaspora as a source of remittances, family networks, and political influence, urging European countries to reconsider naturalization and family reunification policies.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa has recently held high-level talks in Europe, including Berlin and London, focusing on sanctions relief, reconstruction, and economic partnerships.
Syrian authorities insist that future policies will prioritize voluntary returns, rejecting forced deportation while emphasizing the diaspora’s ongoing role in national development.
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