Egypt has witnessed a recent escalation in security measures targeting Syrians residing in the country, with intensified patrols and checks on residency documents leading to arrests and deportations.
These measures have sparked widespread concern among refugees and residents, as many now fear moving freely and face growing difficulties maintaining their legal status, negatively affecting their daily lives, businesses, and social stability.
Syrians living in Egypt told Enab Baladi that security patrols have increased their presence in several areas and begun scrutinizing residency permits, resulting in the detention of a number of individuals.
They added that these steps have pushed many to limit their daily movements out of fear of arrest, amid uncertainty over how long the campaigns will continue.
Residency challenges
Some Syrians face difficulties keeping their residency permits valid due to procedural hurdles or financial costs, leaving them vulnerable to legal violations and potential accountability measures.
Many Syrians in Egypt rely on private businesses or employment to secure their livelihoods, making the stability of their legal status a key factor in sustaining their daily lives.
According to residents, procedures vary by case. In some instances, violators are deported, while others are granted time to regularize their status.
They noted that the measures have heightened anxiety, especially given fears of losing residency permits, which form the basis of their legal presence in the country.
Amer Adna, a Syrian resident in Egypt, told Enab Baladi that the situation reflects a clear escalation against Syrians, with intensified restrictions and arrest campaigns during the month of Ramadan.
He added that detentions often occur just hours before iftar, and that many Syrians have been jailed recently.
The situation, he said, has become closely linked to one’s ability to pay for release.
Cairo is considered the most difficult area, both in terms of deportation risks and the sums required for release, according to Adna.
He noted that the campaigns did not stop during Ramadan, contrary to expectations among some Syrians that there might be leniency during the holy month. “On the contrary, the campaigns continued before and after iftar, at the same pace, perhaps even more intensely,” he said.
Other governorates outside Cairo appear relatively less strict, but the capital remains the center of the most stringent measures due to the presence of key security agencies.
Business owners also concerned
The anxiety has not been limited to those violating residency conditions. According to Adna, some Syrian investors and business owners now fear the impact of these measures on the stability of their operations.
He said some Syrian investors have begun considering closing their projects or freezing expansion plans due to uncertainty surrounding residency and recent inspection procedures, potentially affecting their income and legal stay in Egypt.
A significant portion of Syrians in Egypt do not hold valid residency permits, he added.
The pace of tightening measures has increased since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, with security campaigns intensifying since then.
Eleven days in detention
Ahmad Sabahi, a Syrian resident in Egypt, recounted his experience after being detained in the Gesr al-Suez area of Cairo, despite holding a refugee card issued by the UN Refugee Agency, commonly known as the “yellow card.”
Sabahi said he was stopped while walking in the street and taken to a police station without initially being allowed to contact his family or know how long he would remain detained.
He spent 11 days in detention, describing the conditions as “very poor.”
Anxiety dominated both him and other detainees, particularly amid uncertainty about whether they would be released or deported.
Sabahi said he was released only after paying approximately 400 US dollars, which he described as the sole means to end his detention.
The experience left a deep psychological impact, prompting him to change his daily routine and exercise caution in his movements for fear of being detained again.
He said many Syrians are now living with similar fears, especially as inspection campaigns continue and many lack valid residency permits or are awaiting regularization of their status.
Rising restrictions
Bassam al-Ahmad, director of the organization Syrians for Truth and Justice, said there are indications of escalating restrictive measures against Syrians in Egypt.
The organization has recently received reports of incidents involving restrictions, difficulties in renewing residency permits, and procedures affecting residents’ stability.
Al-Ahmad told Enab Baladi that while these measures cannot yet be compared to the scale of restrictions faced by Syrian refugees in countries such as Turkey, they nonetheless represent a notable shift compared to previous years, when Syrians in Egypt were considered to enjoy relatively greater stability.
He noted that Egypt, alongside Jordan, had previously been viewed as a positive model in dealing with Syrian refugees, without the levels of restriction or hostile rhetoric seen elsewhere.
Although Egyptian authorities have stopped receiving large numbers of refugees in recent years, they had not previously pursued restrictive policies similar to those currently reported.
According to al-Ahmad, the recent tightening has negatively affected Syrians, fostering feelings of insecurity and exposing them to sudden measures that directly impact their ability to work and maintain legal residency.
Questions have emerged regarding the reasons behind this shift, including whether it is linked to the Egyptian government’s position toward Syria’s new authorities following the fall of the former regime, or part of a broader effort to push Syrians toward return, or preparation for stricter future policies.
Al-Ahmad said all possibilities remain open in the absence of official clarifications, expressing hope that the measures will not continue.
He warned that continued restrictions could lead to more difficult years for Syrians in Egypt, similar to experiences in other countries where administrative tightening later developed into deportations and residency bans.
Some countries, he said, use administrative restrictions as an indirect method to pressure refugees into leaving, including limiting work permits or refusing to renew residency, resulting in the loss of legal status.
Al-Ahmad stressed that return to Syria remains complex for many Syrians despite political changes, as some may still face security fears, economic hardships, or personal circumstances preventing return at this time.
He emphasized the need for greater transparency in handling this file and called on relevant parties, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, to monitor Syrians’ conditions and work with the Egyptian government and civil society organizations to find clear solutions.
“The return of Syrians must be based on the principle of safe and voluntary return,” al-Ahmad said, warning that the absence of clear solutions could exacerbate instability and leave Syrians with limited options.
Amnesty International: Arbitrary arrests and unlawful deportations
Amnesty International said Egyptian authorities have in recent months renewed a campaign of arbitrary arrests and unlawful deportations targeting refugees and asylum seekers.
In a statement published on February 16, the organization said the campaign was based solely on refugees’ legal status related to irregular migration.
It described the measures as a blatant violation of the principle of non-refoulement and of Egypt’s own asylum law.
Amnesty added that some of those deported or arbitrarily detained pending deportation were registered refugees or asylum seekers with UNHCR.
Unclear procedures
Activist and human rights advocate Ahmad al-Qadi said the escalation of restrictive measures against Syrians in Egypt cannot be separated from the broader context of relations between the Egyptian government and Syria’s new authorities following the fall of the former regime.
The lack of clarity regarding new policies has created an unstable environment that directly affects Syrians’ daily lives, fueling a constant sense of insecurity.
Egyptian security agencies now rely on sudden decisions, campaigns, and financial settlements to facilitate detainees’ release rather than transparent legal mechanisms, al-Qadi said.
He added that this situation places every Syrian under constant pressure, generating ongoing psychological and social anxiety and limiting their ability to work or pursue projects with confidence.
The impact extends beyond security concerns to economic stability and professional life, as many business owners and factory operators are considering closing their operations or freezing investment plans for fear of sudden security interventions.
According to al-Qadi, this reality worsens Syrians’ legal and living conditions and undermines their overall social stability and quality of life.
He said solutions require urgent intervention from the Egyptian government to clarify policies and procedures related to residency and Syrians residing in the country, establish clear and documented rules, and end individual or quasi-random practices based on financial mediation.
Cooperation between Egyptian and Syrian authorities through transparent mechanisms could help restore stability to Syrians’ lives in Egypt while protecting their legal and human rights, he added.
Denial of entry ban
The Egyptian Ministry of Interior previously denied issuing a decision banning Syrian nationals who had obtained entry approvals from entering the Arab Republic of Egypt.
On February 8, a security source denied reports circulating on social media platforms about new regulations preventing Syrians from entering Egyptian territory.
In recent days, some social media pages circulated a memo claiming that Syrians holding entry approvals would be barred from entering Egypt “until further notice.”
The circulated memo, also shared by some travel agencies, allegedly included Syrians arriving from Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan.
According to the circulated document, the decision did not apply to holders of Egyptian residency permits, and February 6 was said to be the last day permitted for entry.
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