Jens Spahn, a senior member of Germany’s opposition Christian Democrats ( cdu ), suggested handing €1,000 ($1,050) to any Syrian who wished to go home. Austria’s government even instructed officials to prepare deportation plans.

Najem al-Moussa was delighted when news of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's overthrow first beamed from the television in his tiny Athens apartment.

Several European countries announced earlier this week that they are suspending asylum applications from Syrian citizens following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. Over the weekend, Syrian rebels from the Islamist group HTC captured the capital,