Germany rejects many more Syrian asylum seekers in October

Germany rejected significantly more initial applications from Syrian asylum seekers in October than it had in the previous months, statistics from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) show.

A total of 1,906 initial applications were rejected in October, compared to 163 during the period from January through September.

In December, the migration office had suspended decisions on almost all Syrian asylum applications following the toppling of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad, making exceptions for those where another EU country was deemed responsible.

The BAMF also took decisions relating to criminals and people seen as potentially dangerous.

"In justified individual cases, the Federal Office has also issued full rejections against Syrian nationals," the BAMF said.

Germany has not carried out direct deportations to Syria since 2012, due to the civil war.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centrist coalition, which took office in May, has vowed to take a tough stance on migration, including rejecting more asylum seekers - especially those with a criminal record.

Since the end of September, the BAMF has resumed processing the cases of "young, able-bodied men" requesting asylum.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said Berlin is working on agreements with Damascus to make speedy returns possible.

"We want to reach an agreement with Syria this year and then initially deport criminals, and later people without a right of residence," he told the Rheinische Post newspaper in September.