A Syrian plastic surgeon is facing deportation from the UK after the Home Office revoked his refugee status, declaring it is now safe for him and his family to return to their home country.
Despite Foreign Office guidance advising against all travel to Syria because of the “volatile” security situation, the government has classified it as a safe place for refugees to return to.
Although some European countries are strongly promoting voluntary return to Syria, the Home Office’s decision to actively remove refugee status for Syrians is thought to be the first of its kind in Europe since the fall of the Assad regime.
The surgeon, who fled the Assad regime and arrived in the UK in 2016, now lives in London with his wife and six children, three of whom are studying at university. He is understood to be one of the first Syrian refugees in the UK to have his refugee protection cancelled.
The move is believed to be the first time the Home Office has cancelled refugee protection for a particular nationality, and thousands of Syrians settled in the UK are likely to be affected.
“I am so shocked by the Home Office’s decision to withdraw refugee protection,” the surgeon said. “I brought my family to what I considered to be a safe place. We have integrated well but now my refugee status has been cancelled.
“I worked as a plastic surgeon in Syria, converted my medical qualifications here so that I am registered with the General Medical Council to work as a doctor here. I am currently working in a GP surgery but am hoping I will be able to continue my practice as a plastic surgeon soon.
“I don’t believe Syria will be a safe place for me to return to. I was targeted by certain radical groups in Syria who are still operating there. They are capable of doing many things to me. And I don’t believe that the current Syrian government would be able to protect me from these groups.
“I have heard of a few other families who have also had their refugee status taken away from them on the same basis as me – the Home Office says Syria is now a safe country for us to return to.
“After I received the letter from the Home Office I delayed telling my family because I wanted to protect them from sadness for a few more days. But now I have given them the news. Like me, they are all in shock and are only just starting to absorb this. My three older children are all studying at university: one is doing neuroscience, another cybersecurity and a third pharmacy.
“It’s unsafe for all of us to go back to Syria. By revoking our refugee status the Home Office is depriving us of the right to live our lives.”
The Home Office letter states: “Your refugee status has been ceased. Although officials accept that the situation in Syria remains ‘complex’ they consider that changes in Syria are so significant that your fear of persecution and serious harm can no longer be regarded as well founded.”
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The technical term is “cessation” of refugee status. The UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, in its most recent guidance about the safety of Syria, found that governments should not be returning refugees there.
It said: “UNHCR calls on states to refrain from implementing cessation exercises until such time as the situation in Syria has seen significant improvements in overall stability.”
Foreign Office guidance states that the security situation in Syria “remains volatile” and adds: “Fighting and violence may occur around the country and is highly unpredictable. This includes artillery and airstrikes.” The guidance also states that there is a humanitarian crisis in Syria including lack of infrastructure, water, sanitation and health services.
The family’s solicitor, Manini Menon of Duncan Lewis, said: “It is regrettable that the home secretary has seen fit to target Syrian refugees and their families as part of her pledge to reduce net migration figures. This is a cynical and unprecedented step which will have devastating consequences for a group of people who have rebuilt their lives in the UK with considerable effort, contributing to their communities and putting down roots here.
“The evidence in relation to Syria is clear: the circumstances in the country do not allow the home secretary to lawfully conclude that they have stabilised to the extent that refugees can be safely returned there.”
The Home Office said: “Britain will always provide protection to genuine refugees, and we will never return anyone to danger. When it is safe for someone to return to their home country, they will be expected to do so. We continue to work closely with governments around the world to develop and maintain returns agreements, including with Syria.”
