The Kurdish Diaspora Federation in the Netherlands will organize an information and advisory seminar in Rotterdam on Saturday, 24 October 2026, to clarify the legal status of Syrian refugees, particularly Kurds from Western Kurdistan (Rojava), in light of recent changes to asylum policies in the Netherlands and the European Union.
The seminar, entitled “Syria, Asylum and Return,” will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Van der Sluysstraat 176, 3033 SR, Rotterdam. Its primary aim is to address the legal questions and concerns arising from new regulations affecting the right of Kurds from Western Kurdistan to live and remain in the Netherlands.
During the seminar, legal experts and specialists will discuss several important topics, including assessments of the current situation regarding returns to Syria, the latest changes in Dutch asylum policy, new European Union decisions and regulations concerning migration and asylum, and the direct implications of these decisions for residency rights and asylum application procedures.
The organizers note that a substantial part of the programme will be dedicated to giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and receive practical answers and advice from specialists based on their individual circumstances. The gathering will also provide an opportunity to strengthen relationships and improve coordination among the Kurdish diaspora in the Netherlands.
This initiative comes at a time when significant changes are taking place in asylum policies across the European Union, particularly within the Netherlands. Authorities are seeking stricter mechanisms to restrict migration. Meanwhile, growing debate over the designation of safe areas in Syria and the possibility of compelling refugees to return has caused deep concern among Kurdish refugees from Western Kurdistan, many of whom fled their homeland because of instability and human rights violations.
From this perspective, such seminars are considered an important step towards helping refugees understand their legal rights and learn how to protect their right to remain in the country under international and domestic law.