German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Syrian refugees must return home now the war is over or face deportation from Germany
HUSUM: Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared on Monday that Syrian refugees in Germany must return home now that their country’s war has concluded.
Merz stated there was no longer any reason for Syrians who fled the brutal 13-year conflict to continue seeking asylum in Germany.
“For those who refuse to return to their country, we can of course expel them,” he said during his visit to this northern German town.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul had said last Thursday during his Damascus trip that return potential remained very limited due to extensive infrastructure destruction.
Wadephul’s statement triggered backlash from within Merz’s own conservative Christian Democratic Union party.
The CDU has been struggling to prevent far-right parties from outflanking them on the highly charged migration issue.
Merz revealed he had invited Syria’s new interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to visit Germany for joint resolution discussions.
Syria desperately needs all its strength and particularly its own people to undertake national rebuilding efforts.
Merz expressed confidence that many Syrian refugees would voluntarily return to their homeland without requiring forced measures.
Approximately one million Syrians currently reside in Germany after fleeing during the massive 2015-2016 exodus. – AFP
