Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, will pay a visit today, Thursday February 20th, to Damascus, Syria.
During his stay in Damascus, the Minister will have a meeting with the interim leader of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani.
His visit come just days after an in-depth investigation by Statewatch claimed that Cyprus has been unlawfully detaining Syrian refugees and coercing them into returning to Syria through a “voluntary” return programme.
In an article spanning several pages, it says the programme is supported by the European Commission and Frontex, despite internal concerns.
Furthermore, there are claims of refugees facing appalling detention conditions, intimidation, and denial of access to asylum procedures. The investigation highlights that these voluntary returns are often not truly voluntary and are driven by coercion and deceit.
In the article, Abu Iskander Alshami, a Syrian refugee in Cyprus, shares his struggles and the uncertainty of returning to Syria, especially after his home was bombed. The feature adds that Cypriot authorities offer monetary incentives for refugees to return, but many are still waiting for their asylum applications to be processed.
Overall, Cyprus leads the EU in deportations, with many returns being coerced and not based on a free and informed choice. The UN Refugee Agency does not currently promote large-scale voluntary returns to Syria.
The article adds that despite the challenging conditions, many refugees in Cyprus continue to face uncertainty and hardship.