The group Syrians in Cyprus has welcomed Cyprus’s voluntary return programme for Syrian families but raised concerns about family separation and the timing of the initiative alongside asylum status reviews.
The advocacy organisation issued a statement on Friday welcoming the programme, which, as it says, responds to expressed desires by Syrian families to return to their homeland following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.
However, the group criticised what it described as a “carrot and stick” approach, noting the programme’s launch coincides with mass distribution of letters to Syrians for asylum status re-examination after a year-long freeze on application processing.
The organisation highlighted concerns about offering special residence and employment permits to Syrians on condition that remaining family members return to Syria, arguing this contradicts family reunification principles.
“The programme moves against the principle of family reunification,” the statement said, noting this principle is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The group expressed particular concern about encouraging return of vulnerable groups, including women and children, during continued instability in Syria. According to the International Rescue Committee, 90% of Syria’s population lives in poverty, with the country ranking fourth on the 2025 emergency watchlist for countries at risk of new or worsening humanitarian emergencies.
“Forced deportation back to Syria is legally impossible precisely because Syria is not considered a safe country,” the statement noted, referencing failed attempts by EU member states in 2024 to designate coastal Tartus region as safe for Syrian returns.
The organisation questioned the voluntary nature of programmes offering financial incentives to economically struggling families whilst simultaneously suggesting asylum applications may be rejected or subsidiary protection status revoked.
The three-month application period creates narrow timeframes for decisions affecting family lives and activates “fear of missing out” psychology, the group argued, stating return decisions must be fully informed.
The advocacy group requested the Asylum Service publish complete programme terms and conditions for transparent information, noting receipt of questions about retroactive coverage, family reunification procedures, employment contract termination, and permit extensions.
Syria remains classified as unsafe for forced returns, with ongoing conflicts in several regions, extensive mined areas, and general insecurity despite the regime change.
Read more:
