Cyprus carries out first forced deportations of rejected Syrian asylum seekers
Cyprus has started sending Syrians home against their will after their final appeals failed, a step few EU states have taken. Authorities say more removals will follow.
Cyprus has carried out its first forced returns of Syrian nationals whose asylum claims were turned down at every level, as philenews reports. The removals were organised by the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection together with police and other state bodies.
Those put on flights had remained on the island unlawfully after the International Protection Administrative Court also ruled against them. Meanwhile the Asylum Service, acting on instructions from Deputy Minister Nicholas Ioannides, is fast-tracking rejections of clearly unfounded claims and withdrawing subsidiary protection from Syrians who already hold it.
According to the same report, officers will step up checks on foreign nationals without legal status, with further returns expected. A ministry source urged people in that position to leave voluntarily and to ask about any financial support available in their case.
What it means for residents
For Syrians on the island, the room to appeal is narrowing: cases are being decided faster and protection status can be taken away from people who already have it. Employers and landlords also carry responsibility here, since hiring or housing someone without the right to stay is treated as an offence.
- Check your papers. If your claim or protection status is in doubt, consult a lawyer or an accredited adviser before any appointment with the authorities.
- Voluntary return is still on the table. Ask the ministry whether a financial incentive applies to your situation before a removal order lands.
- Landlords and employers: verify residence status, because inspections are set to increase.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
