NEW YORK - The only thing faster than the Syrian opposition forces’ toppling of Assad in recent days has been some (though not all) European politicians using the moment to promote hate against Syrian refugees and talking of deportation, according to Human Rights Watch.
Many European countries have put asylum applications from Syrians on hold after rebels seized the Syrian capital and President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia following 13 years of civil war.
It is way too early to discuss Syrian refugee returns – the situation remains fragile. The images of streams of cars on the roads from Lebanon back to Syria, filled with Syrian refugee families, returning home, are joyous to see. They underline the notion that most refugees want to return to their home, and reclaim their lives in their home country and land.
However, each Syrian refugee will need to weigh their personal circumstances and safety concerns before making the decision to return. We must keep voluntary repatriation at the heart of any discussion around refugee returns.
