Baerbock Advocates Travel Exceptions for Syrian Refugees Post-Assad

The German Foreign Minister proposes allowing Syrian refugees to visit their homeland without risking their protected status.

Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Foreign Minister, has called for exceptions to asylum laws to permit Syrian refugees to visit their homeland without losing their protected status.
The proposal comes after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, with Baerbock emphasizing the need for refugees to assess potential long-term return possibilities firsthand.
Current German asylum laws presume that travel to a refugee's home country invalidates their claim for protection unless the trip is deemed morally imperative.
Baerbock's remarks were made during a Green Party event, where she stressed the importance of a pragmatic approach despite the ongoing election season.
The Foreign Minister recently visited Damascus with her French counterpart, meeting with Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Scharaa to discuss rebuilding efforts and future stability.