Greece Revokes Refugee Status for More Than 1,200 Syrians
Between March 1 and April 9, 2026, Greek authorities revoked the refugee status of 1,203 Syrian nationals, according to figures reported by GreekReporter and Athens News. The move marks a sharp shift in policy under Migration Minister Thanos Plevris, who took office in July 2025 and ordered a nationwide review of asylum cases — treating refugee status as a grant that can be revisited rather than a permanent finding.
The revocations rely on Article 11 of the 1951 Refugee Convention, with Greek authorities arguing that “circumstances have ceased to exist” in parts of Syria. In parallel, Greece has stepped up its Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme, co-funded by the EU and IOM, and recorded 89 voluntary returns to Syria in the same six-week window — roughly half of the EU total of 178.
Refugee-led protests have broken out in Athens, with many Syrians saying it remains unsafe to return given ongoing violence and instability. Rights groups, including UNHCR and the Greek Council for Refugees, have repeatedly urged EU states to maintain individualised case-by-case assessments rather than blanket cessation decisions, warning that forced returns risk violating the principle of non-refoulement.
Sources and further reading
- GreekReporter – Greece Revokes Refugee Status of 1,200 Syrians
- VisaVerge – Greece Revokes Refugee Status for 1,203 Syrians in 2026
- Athens News – Greece cancels refugee status for Syrians
- UNHCR Greece – Information for Syrians in Greece
- AIDA / ECRE – Overview of main changes in Greece’s asylum system
- Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)
