Syria's leader due to visit Berlin with deportations in focus

"Since ousting Syria's longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Sharaa has made frequent overseas trips as the former Islamist rebel chief undergoes a rapid reinvention. He has made official visits to the United States and France, and a series of international sanctions on Syria have been lifted. The focus of next week's visit for the German government will be on stepping up repatriations of Syrians, a priority for Merz's conservative-led coalition since Assad was toppled."

"Roughly one million Syrians fled to Germany in recent years, many of them arriving in 2015-16 to escape the civil war. In November Merz, who fears being outflanked by the far-right AfD party on immigration, insisted there was "no longer any reason" for Syrians who fled the war to seek asylum in Germany. 'For those who refuse to return to their country, we can of course expel them,' he said."

"In December, Germany carried out its first deportation of a Syrian since the civil war erupted in 2011, flying a man convicted of crimes to Damascus. But rights groups have criticised such efforts, citing continued instability in Syria and evidence of rights abuses. Violence between the government and minority groups has repeatedly flared in multi-confessional Syria since Sharaa came to power, including recent clashes between the army and Kurdish forces."

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit Berlin for talks and is due to meet President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has not confirmed whether he will meet Sharaa. Since ousting Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Sharaa has made frequent overseas trips, visited the United States and France, and seen international sanctions on Syria lifted. The German government intends to press for increased repatriations of Syrians, a priority for Merz's conservative-led coalition. Roughly one million Syrians live in Germany, many arriving in 2015-16. Germany carried out its first deportation to Syria since 2011 in December, prompting criticism from rights groups that cite continued instability and rights abuses amid ongoing clashes between the army and Kurdish forces.

Read at The Local Germany