Overview
- After visiting the devastated Damascus suburb of Harasta, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said many Syrians cannot return now and noted only very few exceptional cases of serious criminals should be sent back.
- Senior CDU figures including Günter Krings and Sven Schulze rejected Wadephul’s reasoning, arguing the end of the civil war makes returns broadly reasonable and that destruction is not a valid argument against repatriation.
- CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann and government spokespeople called the dispute a “Scheinkonflikt,” reaffirming the coalition pledge to resume deportations to Syria starting with criminals and so‑called Gefährder.
- The Interior Ministry says work continues on arrangements with Syrian authorities, the ban on refugee “exploratory trips” to Syria remains in force, and BAMF has resumed case processing for young, able‑bodied, single Syrian men.
- Parts of the SPD and the Greens, as well as civil society groups, backed Wadephul’s caution, while the Chancellery highlighted ongoing stabilization efforts and an invitation for Syria’s Ahmed al‑Scharaa to visit Berlin.