Germany warns Assad supporters involved in atrocities in Syria against trying to flee there

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s foreign minister warns anyone involved in atrocities overthrew the Syrian government They opposed seeking asylum in his country, saying they would face “the full force of the law.”

Germany has been a major destination for Syrian refugees over the last decade, with several hundred thousand Syrian nationals live there. Former Syrian secret police officers are already involved in decisions made since 2021 was sentenced For overseeing or facilitating the ill-treatment of detainees in Germany.

“To the torturers of (former President Bashar) Assad, who are now considering fleeing to Germany, I can only say this clearly: We will hold all supporters of the regime to account for the terrible crimes they have committed, with the full force of the law,” the Foreign Minister said. Annalena Baerbock told Sunday’s edition of the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

Baerbock called for international security authorities and intelligence services to work in close cooperation.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Germany was “extremely cautious” and noted the border controls the country already has in place at its borders as it tries to reduce irregular migration.

He told Bild am Sonntag that “nobody who participates in atrocities here is safe from prosecution.” He said the current convictions show that Germany pursues such crimes meticulously and should act as a deterrent against people involved in these crimes from going there.

More generally, German officials have emphasized that many people who have integrated well in recent years will be welcomed to remain after Assad’s ouster. This was followed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz admitting in a video released on Friday that some talk of Syrians returning home “deeply disturbed” them.

“Anyone who works here and is well integrated will be and will remain welcome in Germany,” he said. “Needless to say.”

“Some refugees hope that they will be able to return to their countries soon. “We will support this as much as the situation allows,” he added. However, “only the coming days, weeks and months will tell which direction Syria will take after Assad.”