Update on 17th December: Asmaa’s case was reopened last week and she has been allowed to return home for now. She is expecting a hearing soon, but Denmark continues to pursue its inhumane policy of stripping Syrian refugees of residency so the fight is not over. Please sign the petition to urge Denmark to restore protection for Asmaa and all Syrian refugees.

This heartbreaking photo is of Asmaa Al-Natour as she says goodbye to her neighbour. The Danish authorities have forced Asmaa to leave her home to a deportation camp.

Asmaa is one of 414 Syrian refugees who have been told to leave Denmark and return to Syria this year by the immigration services – after Denmark falsely assessed that parts of Syria are safe to return to. In fact, refugees face huge risk if they return to Syria and Denmark has been widely condemned for its actions, but the government continues to pursue its anti-refugee agenda. 

Demand that Immigration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek reverse Denmark’s shameful policy towards Syrian refugees. Sign the petition and share widely.

The fact is, no part of Syria is safe to return to and no one should be forcibly removed from their place of living. To this day the Syrian regime continues to kill, detain, and torture thousands of civilians. By stripping Syrian refugees of protection, Denmark is tearing families apart and putting hundreds of people at risk – people who have already fled a brutal war and survived unimaginable human rights abuses.

Danish authorities are expected to revoke the residencies of hundreds more Syrians in the coming months, which can split up families with different refugee statuses. Like Asmaa, they will be forced to leave Denmark within a month or move into deportation camps where they live in limbo under inhumane conditions and far from their friends, work and education.

Denmark’s decision is an attempt to appease far-right parties whose influence is increasing, as a part of prime minister Mette Frederiksen’s “zero asylum seekers” agenda. This racist decision sets a dangerous precedent for other countries that host refugees. 

There is hope. Aya Abu Daher, who thousands of us rallied behind, managed to persuade an appeal board that returning would put her life in grave danger. But hundreds more refugees remain in an anxious position. Together, we can pile on a huge wave of public pressure until Denmark scraps its policy for good.

Don’t let the Danish government get away with destroying refugees rights - sign this petition to demand protection for all Syrian refugees in Denmark.

Photo: Kenn Thomsen

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Tell Denmark: Syria is not safe for refugees to return. Reverse your shameful decision.

To: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Minister for Immigration and Integration Kaare Dybvad Bek, the Danish Refugee Appeals Board, and for the attention of all European governments.


I call on you to immediately renew the residency permits of Syrian refugees in Denmark who have been told to either return to Syria where they could face torture and human rights abuses or move into prison-like deportation camps. 

All Syrian refugees must be protected. Neither the UN nor the EU deem Syria to be safe – the Danish government must stop this inhumane act that is putting lives in danger. Other European countries must protect Syrians where Denmark is failing, and welcome any refugees who are forced out of Denmark by this cruel policy.

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    Recent petitions

    • E, Italy
      2 weeks, 1 day ago
    • Francesco, Italy
      3 weeks ago
    • Elizabeth, United States
      3 weeks, 3 days ago
    • Theresa, Germany
      3 weeks, 3 days ago
    • Crystal, United States
      4 weeks ago
    • Giovanni, Italy
      4 weeks, 1 day ago
    • Mohammad, United States
      1 month ago
    • Ralf-Dietmar, Germany
      1 month ago
    • Kathrin, Germany
      1 month, 1 week ago
    • Serap, Turkey
      1 month, 1 week ago

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