Stockholm, Damascus to cooperate on deportations of convicted Syrians

Sweden’s migration minister said Thursday that the country would cooperate with Damascus to increase deportations of Syrians convicted of crimes in Sweden, saying it was a condition for some aid.

“These are Syrian nationals who are in Sweden, who have committed offences here, and who must be deported, but whose deportation has sometimes been very difficult to execute for various reasons,” Johan Forssell told public broadcaster Sveriges Radio.

Forssell and Minister for International Development Cooperation Benjamin Dousa travelled to Syria this week to meet with President Ahmed al-Sharaa – the first visit by Swedish ministers to the country since 2011.

After a large influx of refugees into Sweden in 2015, many of whom were from Syria, successive left- and right-wing governments have tightened asylum and migration rules.

“We have agreed to cooperate on what constitutes one of Sweden’s many important priorities,” Forssell continued.

“The vast majority of people who arrived in Sweden are honest and law-abiding individuals, but there are also those who have committed offences.”

“We must simply be able to deport these individuals; they have no place in Sweden,” he insisted.

Forssell also pointed out that the government had adopted a new principle governing Sweden’s development aid: it now aims, in part, to reduce immigration and accelerate deportations.

“When we provide Swedish development aid, we also expect these countries to cooperate with us and accept their own citizens,” he said.

“This is especially true if they have committed crimes in Sweden. Otherwise, there will be no development aid,” Forssell stressed.

The center-right government – a minority coalition propped up by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats – came to power in 2022 vowing to get tough on immigration.

The issue of repatriations more generally had also been discussed with al-Sharaa, according to Forssell.

Sweden provides financial assistance for travel and other expenses for Syrians wishing to return.

Sweden’s foreign ministry currently advises against any travel to Syria.

Between 2014 and 2018, Syria was the leading country of origin among immigrants in Sweden, according to Statistics Sweden.