From now on Syrians will have to prove that they are individual danger, for example because of their sexual orientation or because they belong to a religious minority. According to the outgoing minister, it is still too early to reassess Syrians who already have a residence permit. The improvement is still ‘not sufficiently resistant’ for this.
Van der Plas proposes compromise about asylum ministeries
A recent official report about Syria from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows a “reasonable improvement” of the security situation. The regime of the expelled President Bashar al-Assad was for most Syrians “the primary source of insecurity.” With his departure in December last year, he, according to Van Weel, ‘will be canceled.
Reassessment issued for residence permits
The minister wants to “go one step further and proceed to reassesses that have already been issued. That must be feasible and legally sustainable, he writes. The minister also emphasizes that the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) at least assesses individually whether someone has a good fear of prosecution or serious damage.
The stricter assessment and even returning of Syrians was a fiery wish of Van Weel’s predecessor Marjolein Faber of the PVV. But the situation in the country was too uncertain for a long time. Faber resigned last week after her party had withdrawn from the coalition.