Syrians in Luxembourg Reflect on Uncertain Times

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, various European countries including Luxembourg announced their decision to pause the processing of asylum applications from Syrians.

In light of the current situation, Chronicle.lu reached out to Syrians living in Luxembourg to learn about their experience and their thoughts on this decision.

Youssef Al-Mohammed

An agricultural engineer from Deir ez-Zor, Youssef Al-Mohammed is married and has five children. He explained how he left Syria for Turkey “due to the terrorist organisation ISIS and the criminal regime of Bashar al-Assad”. He initially moved to Turkey “but left because of the racism against refugees there, especially Syrians”. He then headed to Luxembourg, where his brother was already living, in 2022, when his daughter (now aged two) was one month old. Two years later, Youssef obtained residency in the Grand Duchy. He explained that he has completed all the required steps for family reunification but is yet to receive a response from Luxembourg's Immigration Department. At present, his family are still in Turkey.

In terms of employment, Youssef is “looking for work through the social worker and the employment office in Luxembourg”. In parallel, he is learning French in order to integrate into the local job market. He has also completed the required steps to get his university degree recognised (recognition of equivalence) in Luxembourg.

Asked if he plans to return to Syria in light of the regime change, Youssef said: “I do not consider returning to Syria because the situation there is still unstable and insecure”. Instead, he remains focused on having his family join him in the Grand Duchy: “I am very enthusiastic about reuniting my family and integrating them into society in Luxembourg”.

Mohammed Al-Mousa

A heavy vehicle driver and farmer, Mohammed Al-Mousa left Syria in 2014 “because of the war”. His wife and children are currently living in Turkey, “waiting for me to obtain residency so that I can reunite them with me”. Mohammed explained that he has been living in Luxembourg for seventeen months without residency. “I do not know my fate or the fate of my children,” he shared, adding that the Immigration Department informed him of the decision to freeze Syrian asylum application files - including his own application. He said that he hopes to obtain residency in order to integrate into Luxembourgish society.

Nashwan Al-Abras

Nashwan Al-Abras, a Syrian trader and Eastern cuisine chef, explained how he left Syria “because of the criminal regime of Bashar al-Assad and certain terrorist organisations”. His first stop was Lebanon, before moving to Luxembourg, where his siblings have been living for more than a decade. “They are well-integrated into Luxembourgish society and hold Luxembourgish citizenship,” he said.

Nashwan has obtained residency in the Grand Duchy and is “registered as a jobseeker through the social worker and the employment office”. At the same time, he is “working and studying hard to learn the language” so as to integrate into the labour market. He obtained the residency status 21 months after arriving in Luxembourg. Now, Nashwan is “eagerly waiting for family reunification” - he has not seen his family for 28 months. He said he would “not consider returning to Syria because the situation is unsafe and unstable”.

Mohammed Dayekh

Journalist and artist Mohammed Dayekh shared: “We are all survivors here in Luxembourg - survivors of Assad's regime and its allies, as well as of the perilous land and sea migration journeys”. He added that “Luxembourg has safeguarded our lives”.

“As members of the Syrian community in Luxembourg, we strive to raise awareness among Syrians, build bridges of communication with other communities, and foster connections with Luxembourgish society,” he explained.

Reflecting on the regime change in Syria, Mohammed noted: “We were joyful after the fall of Assad's regime, but the dream remains incomplete because the situation in Syria is still catastrophic on all levels. Syria will need years to recover”.

Speaking on behalf of the Syrian community in Luxembourg, he said Syrians were “making significant efforts to give back to Luxembourg in gratitude for the safety and opportunities it has provided us”.