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How Syrian doctors feel about Germany's migration debate

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Franziska Wüst | Christine Bayer
Published November 20, 2025last updated November 22, 2025

Many Syrian doctors who immigrated to Germany face a difficult choice: rebuild their homeland or remain in their new home country. Germany's heated migration debate and Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent remarks on Syria.

More than 7,000 Syrian doctors are currently working in Germany, helping to sustain the health care system — especially in rural areas. Yet political debates about repatriation are causing uncertainty.

Two physicians share their stories of fleeing Syria, building new lives in Germany and their concerns about the future. For now, returning to Syria seems impossible — so they support their homeland through humanitarian missions.

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