Syrians in Germany are forced to go back to the government that imprisoned or tortured them to get a new passport. The money they pay for passports funds a regime that the German government sanctions, activists say.
According to a media report, the majority of Germany's 16 states favor deporting Syrian nationals deemed to pose a risk to security in Germany. While states with conservative-led interior ministries are in favor of deportations in individual cases, those led by Social Democrats and The Greens are against the contentious practice.
Will Germany be the first EU country to deport people to war-torn Syria? On December 31, the ban on deportations of Syrian nationals deemed to pose a risk to security in Germany expired. Forcibly returning people to Syria is highly controversial: Reports show that detentions, disappearances and torture in Syria "remain pervasive."
Left with no other options, Syrians in Europe have taken local chemical companies, overseas banks and technology firms to court, as well as senior Syrian officials and members of terror groups.
As part of a larger case involving Syrians, a German citizen is also suing Bashar Assad's security apparatus. Martin Lautwein says he witnessed abuse and killings of other inmates during his 48 days detained in Damascus.
Syrian war refugees face home losses under a reconstruction decree issued by President Bashar Assad. The Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper says the German Foreign Ministry is fuming over Assad's "perfidious" plan.
At a Brussels conference, EU countries have pledged billions of dollars in more aid money for Syrian civilians. Yet those same states were unable to come up with funds to investigate possible war crimes in the country.