The Austrian Interior Ministry on Thursday said it had carried out its first deportation of a Syrian to Syria since the start of that country's civil war more than 15 years ago. The deported 32-year-old man was flown to Damascus via Istanbul.

Though his name was not given, nor his specific crime cited, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the man had been convicted in November 2018 at which time he was stripped of his refugee status.

"A Syrian criminal was deported from Austria to Syria today, specifically to Damascus," Karner told reporters, adding, "I believe it is an extremely important signal that Austria is pursuing a tough, strict, forceful but fair asylum policy in that those who endanger others, criminals, will be removed from the country."

Austria says Syria is safe, rights groups aren't so sure

Austria and neighboring Germany have both been eager to repatriate Syrian criminals and those whom they see as potential Islamists now that former President Bashar Assad has been toppled and the civil war ended.

In April, Karner flew to Damascus with his then-counterpart from Germany, Nancy Faeser, to initiate the return of such individuals to Syria, which was deemed safe for return.

With Thursday's repatriation, Austria became the first nation in the EU to deport someone back to Syria.

Rights groups, however, say it is too soon to know how the situation in Syria will develop under the Islamist government that has taken power after pushing out Assad. They also fear Austria's move will set a precedent for other countries.

Syrians and Afghans make up largest number of asylum seekers

Austria's ruling conservative coalition is seeking to use its tough stance on immigration to win back voters who defected to the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) — which won last September's parliamentary elections.

Austria's People's Party — which leads this government — suspended asylum application processing for Syrians within days of Assad's fall while it led the previous government.

Syrian nationals have lodged more asylum requests than any other group since 2015, according to Interior Ministry data. During his comments Karner also spoke of his desire to begin deportations to Afghanistan. 

"There will be, and will have to be, other deportations towards Syria. These are also being prepared," Karner said Thursday.

Germany's current Foreign Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said he hopes to follow Austria's lead, while at the same time seeking direct talks with the Taliban in order to facilitate the same in Afghanistan.

On Thursday Dobrindt said, "There are contacts with Syria on an agreement to return Syrian criminals. There are no results as yet."