Media: Germany rejects 95% of asylum applications from Syrians

(SeaPRwire) –   Reports indicate that asylum approval rates have fallen from approximately 90% in earlier years to just 5%

Media outlets, citing an official document, report that Germany has denied 95% of all new asylum claims from Syrian migrants after a reevaluation of policy towards the Middle Eastern nation.

This marks a dramatic turnaround from the height of the migrant influx in 2014-2015, when asylum was granted to Syrians at rates often above 90%. Germany became a top destination for those escaping the Syrian war, largely due to the open-door policy initiated by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Since then, the country has developed one of Europe’s most significant Syrian diaspora communities, with an estimated population nearing one million.

These statistics originate from the German government’s response to a parliamentary question posed by Left party legislator Clara Bunger, which was publicized by several news organizations on Thursday.

The document states that the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has now implemented more rigorous individual evaluations. In October 2025, the BAMF adjudicated 3,134 Syrian asylum cases, offering protection to only 26 individuals in total. Reportedly, approval rates continue to be higher for certain minority groups, such as Yazidis, Christians, and Alawites.

The policy change occurred after former jihadist commander Ahmed al-Sharaa took control in 2024, overthrowing Syria’s long-time leader, Bashar Assad. German officials contend that widespread protection is no longer warranted, with rulings now focusing more on personal risk than on general conditions of insecurity.

Following a meeting with al-Sharaa in Berlin in late March, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that as many as 80% of Syrians residing in Germany might return home within the next three years, characterizing it as a collaborative initiative to aid reconstruction.

Merz later retracted the statement, clarifying that the number was suggested by the Syrian delegation – an assertion that al-Sharaa called exaggerated and misrepresentative of his stance.

The government’s adjustment in migration policy happens as it faces pressure from right-wing parties, such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which characterizes migrants, especially those from outside Europe, as a strain on public resources and a cause of criminal activity and social tension.

This shift also comes in the wake of several violent incidents involving asylum seekers, notably a 2024 knife attack in Solingen where a Syrian citizen killed three individuals and wounded eight others.