Dokument #1230203
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
According to a specialist on Syria in
Ottawa, the nationality of the persons concerned is an important
factor (26 June 1992). If these people are Syrian nationals, they
should remain in Lebanon and avoid entering Syria where they are
subject to compulsory military service (ibid.). In cases where they
do not have Syrian nationality, they are not subject to military
service (ibid.). However, this rule does not necessarily apply with
respect to a public figure whose political opinion is anti-Syrian
(ibid.). The specialist adds that the Syrian Government is not
specifically interested in Syrians living in Lebanon, but rather in
the nature of their political activities (ibid.).
A specialist on Lebanon and a professor at
the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) says that fines or
prison terms may be imposed on persons, Christian or Muslim, who
refuse to perform military service in Syria (29 June 1992). Someone
who has several nationalities, one of them Syrian, is subject to
Syrian law if he is on Syrian territory (ibid.). Thus, no other law
or country could intervene to prevent the Syrian Government from
forcing this person to perform military service (ibid.). Syrian
citizens are not systematically sought in Lebanon, but if a person
subject to military service in Syria were the victim of some
incident and Syrian soldiers checked his identity papers, it would
not be possible to predict the consequences (ibid.).
The sources consulted were not able to
provide information on the content of the new law on military
service in Syria.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is
not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any
particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Specialist on Syria, Ottawa. 26 June
1992. Telephone interview.
University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM),
Montreal. 29 June 1992. Telephone interview with a professor.
Attachments
Immigration and Refugee Board
Documentation Centre (IRBDC), Ottawa. 28 November 1990. Response to
Information Request SYR7290.
Immigration and Refugee Board
Documentation Centre (IRBDC), Ottawa. 18 April 1990. Response to
Information Request SYR3568.
Information on the treatment of Christian conscientious objectors who are Syrian nationals, born in, and residents of, Lebanon [SYR11138.FE] (Anfragebeantwortung, Französisch)