Central Berlin was largely sealed off for a high‑profile reception when Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al‑Sharaa, arrived in the government quarter and met Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier. The visit drew immediate controversy: the tabloid Bild reported al‑Sharaa stayed in a five‑star hotel and called it “the most controversial state visit of the year,” while some witnesses said supporters greeted him on arrival with chants of “Allahu Akbar.”
Berlin has been navigating a difficult political balance. Al‑Sharaa, 43, is a former Islamist militia leader who has been accused of serious human rights abuses both before and, according to some reports, after the overthrow of Bashar al‑Assad. He once commanded the al‑Nusra Front, a group previously allied with al‑Qaeda. Nevertheless, German officials describe him as their primary Syrian interlocutor.
The visit is linked to an emerging cooperation between Germany and Syria aimed at encouraging the return of Syrians who fled the conflict. At a joint press conference, Merz announced plans for a “joint task force” and said a German delegation would travel to Syria “in just a few days.” He also surprised reporters by stating he wants 80% of Syrians currently in Germany to return within three years, arguing that more than a year after Assad’s ouster and the end of the civil war, general conditions in Syria have “fundamentally improved.” Merz added that people without a right to stay in Germany — especially those who “abuse our hospitality” — should go back.
About one million people of Syrian origin live in Germany; roughly 700,000 are recorded as asylum seekers. The push for repatriation is a contentious issue inside the governing coalition. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and other conservatives say the conflict is effectively over and many refugees can return. Others disagree.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU), after visiting a heavily damaged Damascus suburb last year, warned it was “virtually impossible for people to live a truly dignified life here” and reportedly told his parliamentary group that parts of Syria looked worse than Germany in 1945 — comments that drew sharp criticism from conservatives. NGOs working with Syrian refugees have argued that deportations to Syria would be inappropriate at present.
Civil society groups offered mixed reactions to the Berlin meeting. Sophie Bischoff of Adopt a Revolution said the government was right to receive al‑Sharaa but cautioned that civil society in Syria still faces severe repression even after the regime’s fall. Farhad Ahma of PEL‑Civil Waves urged Germany to take an active part in reconstruction and to press the new authorities not to marginalize minorities such as the Kurds, saying Syria’s future depends on becoming a state for all communities. He added that many exiled Syrians might see the visit as an opportunity to return and confirm that the old regime is gone.
At the same time, officials and campaigners warned that any return could put Syrians in Germany at risk and might jeopardize their protected status.
This report was originally published in German. If you want regular updates on German politics and society, you can sign up for the weekly Berlin Briefing newsletter.