HIAS Statement in Support of the Rights of Syrian Refugees

Silver Spring, Md. — In the wake of historic political changes in Syria, HIAS extends our solidarity to the millions of Syrians who have been displaced by their country’s long conflict, and encourages all governments to uphold obligations to protect those forced from their homes. 

“For well over a decade, the crisis in Syria has produced one of the largest refugee crises in modern history, and HIAS has been on the frontlines of the response,” said Mark Hetfield, HIAS President. “Today, we share in the joy of the countless Syrian refugees across the world — from Jordan to Germany, Sweden to Somalia — who have taken to the streets to celebrate the dawn of a new era for their country. And we will continue to support their right to make decisions for their own futures.”  

As the situation evolves, HIAS urges all governments to uphold the rights of the refugees and asylum seekers within their borders, and to recognize that no approach will work for all people. For those who choose to return to Syria, the process must be safe, voluntary, informed, and dignified. Those who continue to require safety abroad should be granted that protection. We encourage adherence to the guidance from the UN’s Refugee Agency. Asylum processing must continue, including for new applications, and countries which have announced pauses to re-evaluate country conditions should resume processing as quickly as possible. 

“As European countries are pausing asylum applications and calling for fast returns to Syria, our Jewish values compel us to respond with empathy, history, and responsibility,” said Ilan Cohn, Director of HIAS Europe. 

Since 2011, HIAS has provided legal assistance and other support and advocated for the rights of Syrian refugees via our offices in 20+ countries around the world. In the United States, HIAS has resettled more than 3,600 Syrian refugees through our network of resettlement affiliates, engaging communities to provide them safety and welcome in their new homes. HIAS opened an office in Greece in 2016 to provide support to Syrians and others crossing the Mediterranean, and to-date has provided legal support to hundreds of Syrian refugees. In Europe, our offices work in partnership to provide safe and welcoming environments for refugees.