The Commissioner for Administration, Maria Stylianou-Lottides, has ignited a firestorm within the Asylum Service after a scathing report revealed significant delays in processing international protection applications from Syrian refugees.
The report, prompted by a surge of complaints from frustrated applicants, exposes a bureaucratic nightmare with some Syrians waiting two to five years for a decision on their status.
Even more concerning, the report highlights a complete breakdown in communication. Applicants, according to the investigation, were left in the dark. Legislation and directives mandate written explanations for delays exceeding nine months, a practice ignored by the Asylum Service.
Furthermore, the report condemns the agency’s failure to inform applicants about the recent policy change suspending the examination of Syrian applications altogether.
The report demands immediate corrective action. Commissioner Stylianou-Lottides insists the Asylum Service rectify the situation by informing existing applicants of the reasons behind the delays in their individual cases.
Additionally, all Syrian applicants, both those impacted by delays and those submitting applications after April 14, 2024 (the date of the new suspension policy), must be properly informed about the current state of affairs. The onus falls on the Asylum Service to ensure clear and consistent communication in accordance with established laws.
The report has been delivered directly to the head of the Asylum Service, demanding a swift response to address the identified issues.
A copy has also been forwarded to the Minister of the Interior, potentially paving the way for further interventions.
Cyprus has suspended the processing of asylum applications from Syrian nationals.
The U.N. human rights office stated earlier this year that based on evidence it has gathered, Syrian refugees who fled the ongoing Syrian civil war are facing gross human rights violations such as torture and abduction on their return to Syria, while women are subject to sexual harassment and violence.
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