Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Germany plans to deport Syrian citizens with criminal records and has invited Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Berlin for talks on the issue.
"We will, of course, continue to deport criminals to Syria. That is the plan. We will now implement this in a very concrete manner," Merz told reporters.
He added that Germany also wants to contribute to Syria’s stability and intends to discuss with al-Sharaa "how we can solve this together".
Merz’s stance marks a sharp departure from the policy of his predecessor, Angela Merkel, whose government adopted an open-door approach a decade ago, allowing around one million refugees, many of them Syrians, to enter Germany during the conflict.
Since then, the rise of the far right has pushed Merz’s conservative CDU party to take a tougher position on migration and border security, with an emphasis on speeding up deportations.
"I will say it again: the civil war in Syria is over. There are now no longer any grounds for asylum in Germany," Merz said.
President al-Sharaa, who took power from Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has embarked on several diplomatic visits aimed at restoring Syria’s international relations after years of isolation. He is expected to visit Washington in early November.
Azerbaijan has been elected to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the 2025 to 2029 term, securing one of the most competitive seats allocated to ...
Australian far-right Senator Pauline Hanson drew sharp criticism on Monday after entering Parliament wearing a burqa as part of her latest push to ban...
A research team in China has unveiled a breakthrough manufacturing technique that cuts the production time of a key electrical component from around o...
More than 11,000 people across seven Malaysian states have been affected by severe flooding triggered by days of torrential rain, the National Disaste...
Visitors to some of UK’s major cities, including London, could soon be paying extra, if they stay overnight in hotels or Airbnb style accommodation ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 11st of November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday to discuss improving bilateral relations and addressing key regional concerns, according to the Syrian presidency.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 10th of November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday (10 November) caps a stunning year for the rebel-turned-ruler who toppled a long-time autocratic leader and has since toured the world as he seeks to end Syria's international isolation.
The United States is preparing to launch a new round of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies efforts to pressure President Nicolás Maduro’s government and targets what it calls Venezuela’s role in the regional drug trade.
Cameras from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) on Saturday (22 November) captured Hawaii's Kilauea volcano spewing flowing lava from its crater in its latest eruption.
Italy captured a remarkable third consecutive Davis Cup title on Sunday, with Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli securing singles victories in a 2-0 triumph over Spain in Bologna.
Air traffic at Eindhoven Airport in the southern Netherlands was suspended on Saturday evening after multiple drones were sighted near the facility, prompting the deployment of counter-drone systems and raising fresh alarm over airspace security in Europe.
Several international airlines have suspended flights from Venezuela after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned of heightened military activity and deteriorating security conditions in the country’s airspace.
Australian far-right Senator Pauline Hanson drew sharp criticism on Monday after entering Parliament wearing a burqa as part of her latest push to ban the face-covering Muslim garment in public. The stunt prompted accusations of racism from Muslim lawmakers and led to the suspension of the Senate.
A research team in China has unveiled a breakthrough manufacturing technique that cuts the production time of a key electrical component from around one hour to just one second, potentially reshaping industries ranging from laser weapons to next-generation electric vehicles.
More than 11,000 people across seven Malaysian states have been affected by severe flooding triggered by days of torrential rain, the National Disaster Management Agency said on Monday.
Visitors to some of UK’s major cities, including London, could soon be paying extra, if they stay overnight in hotels or Airbnb style accommodation by paying a tourist tax.
The United States and Ukraine have agreed on a revised peace framework to end the war with Russia, saying talks in Geneva produced significant progress toward an updated plan acceptable to both sides, they announced on Sunday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment