Denmark’s decision on Syrian refugees and its impact on women and older people

Denmark has stripped at least 380 Syrian refugees of their residency permits after claiming that some parts of Syria are safe. Denmark claims to be one of the most equal countries in the world, but because the government recognizes that men are at risk of forced conscription into the Syrian army, women have been disproportionately targeted for case reviews by the immigration service. This means women are more likely to be told to return to Assad’s Syria, and elderly people are also at risk.

This comes after the Danish government decided that Damascus and its surrounding area are safe for Syrian refugees to return to based on a flawed report whose conclusion was condemned by eleven out of the twelve experts cited in it. Worryingly, the Danish authorities are expected to revoke the residency of hundreds more Syrian refugees in the coming months.