BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s foreign minister is warning anyone involved in atrocities for Syria’s ousted government not to seek refuge in her country, saying they will face “the full force of the law.”
Germany has been a major destination for Syrian refugees over the past decade, and several hundred thousand Syrian nationals live there. In rulings since 2021, former Syrian secret police officers have already been convicted in Germany of overseeing or facilitating the abuse of detainees.
“To all the torturers of Assad (former President Bashar) who may be considering fleeing to Germany now, I can only say clearly: we will hold all the regime’s accomplices to account for their terrible crimes with the full force of the law .” Annalena Baerbock said this in the Sunday edition of the newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
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Baerbock called on international security authorities and intelligence services to work closely together.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Germany is “extremely vigilant” and pointed to border controls the country has already introduced at its borders in its bid to reduce irregular migration.
She told Bild am Sonntag that “no one who has taken part in atrocities here is safe from prosecution.” She said the convictions already handed down show that Germany rigorously prosecutes such crimes and must act as a deterrent against people involved who go there.
More broadly, German officials have emphasized that many well-integrated newcomers of recent years will be welcome to stay after Assad’s removal. That was followed by some talk about Syrians going home, which Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged in a video released Friday that left them “deeply unsettled.”
“Everyone who works here and is well integrated is and will remain welcome in Germany,” he said. “That speaks for itself.”
“Some refugees hope they can return to their home countries soon. We will support that as soon as the situation allows,” he added. But “only the coming days, weeks and months will tell what direction Syria will take after Assad.”
