A refugee family in the Swedish city of Norrköping has been left in a state of shock and anxiety after the father of the family was arrested and prepared for deportation. The decision was made based on a recommendation by the Swedish Security Service (Säpo).
His wife, Shayma, says they have not received clear information regarding the reason for this decision, and carrying out the deportation will result in the separation of the father from her and their four children.
According to the Migration Agency’s decision, which the publication Kompass obtained, Mohammed’s case has been classified as a “security case.” He was previously granted a temporary residence permit three times because, in previous years, he could not be deported due to the situation in Syria.
From Deir ez-Zor to Sweden
Mohammed Ahmed Ali, 36, arrived in Sweden in 2015. In 2016, he received a temporary residence permit, which was granted based on his asylum case regarding the presence of ISIS in Deir ez-Zor.
A Family and Four Swedish Children
Shayma, Mohammed’s wife, said she arrived in Sweden in 2017 with her two daughters through the United Nations.
Currently, they have four children, all of whom are Swedish citizens:
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Two daughters, aged 10 and 12.
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Two sons who were born in Sweden, aged 7 and 8.
Shayma, who still holds a temporary residence permit, says that after Mohammed had lived in Sweden for several years, the Migration Agency initiated a case to revoke his asylum status and deport him, and she does not know the real reason behind it.
Säpo’s Recommendation
According to the decision, Säpo submitted a security assessment in 2025, requesting the rejection of Mohammed’s residence permit for security reasons.
However, the decision does not provide the details of Säpo’s reasoning.
The Migration Agency wrote: “Säpo has recommended rejecting your application for security reasons, and we see no reason to doubt Säpo’s recommendation.”
Shayma added, “My children and I have the right to know why they want to separate my husband from us.”
Public Security vs. The Best Interest of the Child
The Migration Agency stated in its decision that despite the best interests of the children—who must maintain a strong relationship with both parents—protecting the security of society and regulating migration takes precedence in this case.
It was also mentioned that the family could maintain their relationship through digital communication or by visiting a third country, such as Turkey.
The Changing Situation in Deir ez-Zor
The Migration Agency relies on recent assessments of the new situation in Syria, stating that the security environment in eastern Syria has changed, the level of violence has decreased, and the situation no longer reaches the threshold of a civil war.
It also states that Mohammed is a civilian and there is no evidence to suggest he would not be treated as a civilian upon his return.
Impact on the Children
Speaking about their current situation, Shayma said: “The arrest of my husband has had a severe impact on the children. They all cry and refuse to leave the house because they want their father with them.”
She emphasized that managing the lives of four children alone is impossibly difficult, and she fears the execution of this decision will permanently separate their father from the children, as the ruling imposes a 20-year ban on him re-entering Sweden and the Schengen Area.
Legal Responsibility
Regarding this case, lawyer Majid al-Nashi says: “The main problem in these types of cases is that authorities rely heavily on Säpo’s assessments, but often the person concerned does not know all the specific details of the reasoning.”
He noted that this creates a legal loophole because a person cannot effectively defend themselves if they do not know what they are being accused of.
When can a refugee’s residence permit be revoked?
According to the guidelines of the Swedish Migration Agency, a refugee’s temporary residence permit can be revoked if:
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The situation in the country of origin has changed fundamentally and permanently.
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The person no longer needs protection.
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There is a legal reason, such as a threat to national security or the commission of a serious crime.