ECHR temporarily halts deportation of Syrian

This was confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior upon request from APA. The department viewed the development calmly in a written statement. The measure - as in a previous case - is a so-called "Interim Measure." This is "no surprise" and "absolutely nothing unusual."

Rather, the procedure corresponds to the usual process, emphasized the Ministry of the Interior: "All preparations for the execution of this and further deportations to Syria are still being made." The Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) acknowledged the ECHR's interim order, it was also stated.

The order is a measure limited until September 8, 2025, the ministry noted. By this time, the ECHR will thoroughly examine the case and the BFA will provide a detailed statement. This is also required by the ECHR to be able to examine the facts. The person concerned is a repeat offender and convicted criminal, according to the ministry.

Minister Karner "not surprised"

Department head Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) emphasized on the sidelines of a press conference that the already executed deportation of a Syrian had taken place "in accordance with the law" via Istanbul to Damascus. He will continue to fight for further deportations to take place there in the future. That the ECHR has now postponed the deportation of another Syrian does not surprise him, Karner also said.

Even in the first case, the ECtHR gave a short deadline for a statement. According to the minister, Austrian authorities deport over 13,000 people per year, a little more than half of them voluntarily. "Keeping track" is not the task of the Austrian authorities and would also be "impossible," Karner said when asked about the disappearance of the already deported Syrian and how this can be prevented.

"It is our responsibility to ensure security in Austria, which includes removing criminals and threats from the country." The deportation to Syria is "not an easy process," but was made possible after talks with the local counterpart, said Karner. It is an "enormously important signal," and even if it is only one case: "If we have prevented just one crime with it, that is a great success."

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl described the latest development as another "total failure of the ÖVP-led federal government" and a "bankruptcy declaration for the security policy" of Interior Minister Karner. For him, the case once again reveals that the alleged "strict course" of the ÖVP fails due to bureaucracy and its own incompetence, he wrote in a statement.

Deportation of Syrian Stopped: Relief Among Refugee NGOs

Refugee NGOs reacted with relief due to the development. Syria is still a country in a state of war and cannot guarantee the most basic human rights, emphasized the Deserters and Refugee Counseling in a statement. Interim measures by the ECtHR are issued only in absolute exceptional cases. Amnesty International Austria also called on Interior Minister Karner and Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) to clarify the case of the missing Syrian and to immediately stop all planned deportations to Syria.

(APA/Red)

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