Deportation to Syria Halted Due to Airspace Closure

On June 23, 2025, a planned deportation of a Syrian criminal from Austria to Syria has been suspended indefinitely. The Austrian Ministry of the Interior announced that the closure of Syrian airspace, a consequence of escalating tensions in the Middle East, has rendered flights to Syria unfeasible. The individual in question will remain in detention until further notice. The ministry stated that once deportations become feasible again, efforts will resume to carry out the individual's removal.

However, the process may face additional hurdles as the required approval from Syrian authorities has reportedly expired as of the same day. The ministry described its collaboration with Damascus as 'correct.' The individual had his asylum status revoked after serving a prison sentence in Austria, although the specific reasons for his incarceration were not disclosed for security reasons.

Deportations to Syria from EU countries have become increasingly rare. The proposed deportation would have marked the first such action from Austria since the onset of the Syrian civil war. This decision follows a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights, which concluded that there was no imminent danger for the individual upon returning to Syria. However, human rights advocates, including representatives from asylum coordination groups, have expressed concerns regarding the unpredictable situation in Syria, emphasizing the possibility of the individual facing arrest or even torture upon arrival.

Currently, deportations from the EU to Syria are infrequent. Although Eurostat statistics indicate that several dozen individuals may have been deported from countries like Romania and Hungary in recent months, confirmation of these cases remains elusive. Since the fall of the Assad regime, Austria has been making concerted efforts to deport Syrians, particularly those with criminal backgrounds, as frequently highlighted by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. In late April, Karner, alongside his former German counterpart Nancy Faeser, visited Syria to engage with the new authorities and discuss practical steps for security training, repatriation, and deportations.