Countries across Europe are pushing to send Syrian refugees back home, but the move is causing fear and frustration among those who have made new lives for themselves on the continent.
For Abdulhkeem Alshater, the moment his homeland was finally free from Bashar al-Assad's brutal regime two years ago marked a miracle. Yet just 24 hours later, Austrian authorities announced plans to suspend asylum applications for Syrians, plunging thousands of refugees into uncertainty.
"I'm alarmed and disappointed," said Alshater, who has spent the past decade rebuilding his life in Austria with his family. "And it's a breach of trust, especially for those who have already built a life here."
The decision was part of a broader trend across Europe where politicians are pushing to be seen as tough on migration. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that many Syrians living there will voluntarily return home, threatening deportation for those who refuse.
But employers, trade unions and business associations argue that Syrians play a vital role in alleviating labor shortages in the country. And experts say that forcing people to return now would be too early, given the ongoing challenges of rebuilding Syria.
"A huge challenge awaits us," said Ahed Festuk, a Syrian activist who recently visited her homeland for the first time since fleeing war. "We should give Syrians space to decide their own fate, not force them to return."
Festuk and others point out that many Syrians have forged deep ties in Turkey, launching businesses and building communities. The Turkish government has seen over 500,000 people return from the country since the start of the Syrian civil war.
But far-right politicians are using migration as a rallying cry, fueling anti-Syrian sentiment among some voters. Ryyan Alshebl, who recently won a seat in the German parliament as an independent candidate, says that he was surprised by the bias against Syrians among his own party's supporters before the election.
"For those who have learned the language and joined the workforce, we need to allow them to stay," Alshebl said. "But for those who are not integrated, they cannot stay. That's a legitimate deal – Germany needs these people, but it also needs to send out a clear message."
The EU has struggled to balance the desire to welcome refugees with concerns about migration and integration. As countries like Austria and Germany take steps to return Syrians, others may follow suit, leaving thousands of refugees in limbo.
The fall of Assad's regime has brought hope for some Syrians that their homeland can be rebuilt – but it also raises difficult questions about what role the international community should play in shaping their future.
For Abdulhkeem Alshater, the moment his homeland was finally free from Bashar al-Assad's brutal regime two years ago marked a miracle. Yet just 24 hours later, Austrian authorities announced plans to suspend asylum applications for Syrians, plunging thousands of refugees into uncertainty.
"I'm alarmed and disappointed," said Alshater, who has spent the past decade rebuilding his life in Austria with his family. "And it's a breach of trust, especially for those who have already built a life here."
The decision was part of a broader trend across Europe where politicians are pushing to be seen as tough on migration. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that many Syrians living there will voluntarily return home, threatening deportation for those who refuse.
But employers, trade unions and business associations argue that Syrians play a vital role in alleviating labor shortages in the country. And experts say that forcing people to return now would be too early, given the ongoing challenges of rebuilding Syria.
"A huge challenge awaits us," said Ahed Festuk, a Syrian activist who recently visited her homeland for the first time since fleeing war. "We should give Syrians space to decide their own fate, not force them to return."
Festuk and others point out that many Syrians have forged deep ties in Turkey, launching businesses and building communities. The Turkish government has seen over 500,000 people return from the country since the start of the Syrian civil war.
But far-right politicians are using migration as a rallying cry, fueling anti-Syrian sentiment among some voters. Ryyan Alshebl, who recently won a seat in the German parliament as an independent candidate, says that he was surprised by the bias against Syrians among his own party's supporters before the election.
"For those who have learned the language and joined the workforce, we need to allow them to stay," Alshebl said. "But for those who are not integrated, they cannot stay. That's a legitimate deal – Germany needs these people, but it also needs to send out a clear message."
The EU has struggled to balance the desire to welcome refugees with concerns about migration and integration. As countries like Austria and Germany take steps to return Syrians, others may follow suit, leaving thousands of refugees in limbo.
The fall of Assad's regime has brought hope for some Syrians that their homeland can be rebuilt – but it also raises difficult questions about what role the international community should play in shaping their future.
, so many people are trying to send Syrian refugees back home after they've already built new lives for themselves in Europe? It just doesn't seem fair to me 
, especially when there are still a lot of challenges facing Syria. I mean Abdulhkeem Alshater's story is really inspiring, he's been rebuilding his life in Austria with his family for 10 years and now they're being told they might have to leave? It's like, what even is the point of all this? 
You're sending people back to Syria just 2 yrs after they escaped a bloody war? That's not exactly a miracle, is it? 
I mean, I get that politicians want to look tough on migration, but this is just cruel. Those ppl have built lives here, families, communities... they can't just be sent back like they're some kinda lab rat in an experiment. 
Those ppl are not just stats in some politician's book; they're human beings.
Newsflash: integration is hard, but it's also possible with effort and understanding. Just because someone speaks different languages or has a different culture doesn't mean they're not worthy of respect.
they've already been through so much and now they're facing uncertainty again... it's like, haven't we learned from our history? how can we just send them back to a war-torn country without thinking of the human cost? 
i mean, yeah some ppl think they'll just go back to turkey or whatever but that's not gonna be easy for them, they've already made new lives here... my friend's brother is one of them and he's really struggling to adjust to life in austria 
but at the end of the day, we all know that ppl who are fleeing war and persecution deserve our compassion and support 
But honestly, who gets to decide who's "integrated" or not? It's like they're saying only those who speak fluent German can be friends 
, now thousands will be stuck without a life they built 
, it's not fair to take that away from them 
It's just too late for a new "deal" now 
. Everyone knows syrians are an asset, but politicians don't care 
. And whats with the "tough on migration" rhetoric? Like, Germany needs immigrants or its gonna die 
.
. But until then, these thousands of people are just stuck in limbo, wondering what the future holds for them 
Can't we just figure out a better way to balance welcoming refugees with making sure they're integrated into society? 
That's just cruel.
Like, just because someone moves to a new country doesn't mean they can't find their roots (literally!) or build a life for themselves. And I'm so over the whole "tough on migration" thing... it's like, we're not even talking about the human beings behind the statistics and policies... 
I mean come on, 500k people from turkey have already settled over there no problem whatsoever so why can't we give the syrians a chance too?
. And I'm not saying that everyone fits in, but to just deport someone because they're not integrated is really harsh.
(this is why people are scared, politicians are watching and judging them)
(the future is unknown and it's hard to predict how things will turn out)
(people need to rise up and support each other)
(politicians should focus on finding solutions rather than making excuses)