It was a grand reception for the former leader of an Islamist militia: The government district around the chancellery in central Berlin was largely cordoned off this Monday, and Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was received by both Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the head of state, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Not all political observers were happy about this. Bild, the country's highest-circulation tabloid, reported on Monday that the leader of the war-torn country was staying in a five-star hotel in the German capital and the headline described it as "the most controversial state visit of the year." The paper also claimed to have learned that al-Sharaa was greeted upon his arrival at the hotel by enthusiastic supporters shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great").

The German government's tightrope act

Al-Sharaa is accused of serious human rights violations dating back to the period before the overthrow of long-time ruler Bashar Assad — and in some cases even afterward.

The 43-year-old Al-Sharaa previously commanded the al-Nusra Front, which was once allied with the al-Qaeda terrorist network. Nevertheless, German government spokespeople have been emphasizing for days that the current interim president is the primary contact person when it comes to Syria.

Germany and Syria are working jointly on encouraging Syrians to return home. They have an important role to play, Merz argued during a joint press conference with his Syrian guest on Monday. The chancellor said a "joint task force" would be established and a German delegation would visit Syria "in just a few days."

Merz took reporters by surprise when he said in the press conference that he wants 80 percent of Syrians in Germany to return home over the next three years.

More than a year after Assad's ouster and the end of the civil war, the general conditions in Syria have "fundamentally improved," Merz said, adding that anyone who no longer had a right to residency in Germany should return to Syria. This applied in particular to those "who abuse our hospitality" and did not abide by German laws. 

1 million Syrians in Germany

Approximately 1 million Syrians are living in Germany, most of whom fled the civil war that began in 2011. Their repatriation has for months been a controversial issue within the German government. Around 700,000 of them are considered asylum seekers.

Chancellor Merz and, in particular, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt from the Bavarian conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) argue that since the interim president took power, the Syrian civil war is essentially over, and that these people can and must return to Syria.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, also from Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) does not seem to agree though. Last year, during a visit to a heavily devastated suburb of Damascus, Wadephul said, "It's virtually impossible for people to live a truly dignified life here." Later, he reportedly told the joint CDU/CSU parliamentary group that Syria looks worse today than Germany did in 1945. His statements prompted fierce criticism from other conservative politicians.

Non-governmental organizations dealing with Syrian refugees agree with the foreign minister that nobody should be deported to Syria now.

NGOs speak out on Syria

On Monday, several NGOs told reporters that despite all the criticism of the interim president, the German government is right to receive al-Sharaa now. Sophie Bischoff of the organization "Adopt a Revolution," which was founded after the uprising in Syria in 2011, added that the situation for civil society remains difficult: "Even after the fall of the Assad regime, there has been terrible repression."

Farhad Ahma, head of the organization "PEL-Civil Waves," advised the German government to actively participate in the reconstruction of Syria and to urge the new government not to oppress minorities like the Kurds.

"Syria is important for Germany to establish peace in the region and to overcome terrorism. And these problems will only be solved if it becomes a country for all segments of the population," Ahma told reporters.

And what advice does he have for his fellow Syrians? Should they return to Syria? Ahma says they should go there and see for themselves: "For many Syrians who have lived in exile for decades, this is a historic moment to travel to the country again after the fall of the regime and to see that this regime is no longer there," he said.

However, this could pose a problem for many Syrians who have fled to Germany: If they return to their homeland, even briefly, they risk losing their "protected status" in Germany.

This article was originally published in German.

First published: March 30, 2026

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