Austria pushes IS propagandists-but where is he now?

Austria pushes IS propagandists-but where is he now?

Damaskus, Syrien - Austria today, on July 15th, 2025, set a remarkable sign with the deportation of a Syrian offender. This measure has marked the first return of a man to Syria for 15 years. The 32-year-old, a convicted IS propagandist, was sentenced to seven years in prison in November 2018 by the Salzburg Regional Court for his participation in the terrorist militia "Islamic State". He had acted as a "media Mujahid", recruited members for IS and spread propaganda content on various platforms such as Google, Facebook, Telegram and Twitter. In total, he is said to have operated around 30 profiles. In February 2019, he was revoked as an asylum status and an unlimited entry ban.

The deportation was initially no implementation yesterday due to the closed airspace over Syria, caused by the Middle East conflict. Nevertheless, the Interior Ministry, under the direction of Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP), started the return last week. The man was deported to Damascus by scheduling via Istanbul. Karner emphasizes the need for a tough asylum policy and plans to carry out further deportations, but no "mass portation". Austria is hereby the first European country, which officially deported a Syrian offender to Syria, the focus of international attention.

disappear after deportation

After the deportation, the man has disappeared without a trace. The last contact was recorded from Istanbul, and neither family nor helpers could reach him. The Austrian Ministry of the Interior announces no details about its disappearance, and it remains unclear whether it has traveled to Damascus or was handed over to Syrian security forces in Turkey. The Ministry of the Interior assures that the handover to the responsible bodies had been legally.

The man's lawyer has requested diplomatic steps and pointed out the ban on refoulement, which says that no refugee can be returned to a country in which he threatens torture or another form of severe persecution. Neither the interior nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seem to be responsible for the situation of the man. These uncertainties raise questions about the legal foundations and humanitarian obligations associated with such a deportation.

willingness to persecute criminal acts

The history of the man shows a chain of criminal acts that finally led to his deportation. After serving his punishment, he was put into custody in March 2025 due to a further crime and sentenced to a two -month prison sentence in May. After this punishment he came into play, which ultimately resulted in the preparation of his deportation.

Although the deportation is due to a serious offense, the circumstances around the disappearance of the man and the role of the authorities are of central interest in this process. Interior Minister Karner remains in the explanation that criminals and dangers must be brought out of the country consistently, knowing that the topic of controversy discussions about asylum law and human rights can be sparked.

The Interior Ministry points out that around 350 Syrians have voluntarily returned to their home country since the Assad regime falls. This makes the current situation even more complex because both security and human rights aspects play a role.

For more information on this topic, read the reports in Austria.