Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to reject asylum applications from former government officials of the Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad.
The Home Office acted swiftly to temporarily pause decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation.
We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.
While all asylum claims are routinely considered on their individual merits, it is standard procedure to deny protection to anyone who has committed crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, other serious crimes abroad or acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.