Denmark's Migration Minister @mattiastesfaye is under intense pressure over plan to return Syrian refugees. The report used to justify the policy is crumbling, this is how @LHreports uncovered a story hiding in plain sight since 2019 THREAD

In late 2018, a mission from the Office of Country Documentation & @DRC_ngo visited Damascus to “collect updated information on issues recurring in cases regarding asylum seekers”

Country of Origin Information (COI) missions aren't unusual. But freedom of movement can be heavily restricted: In 2015, a Danish COI mission to Somalia caused embarrassment when investigators had to admit they only saw Mogadishu airport.

For 10 days the Syria mission spoke to sources in Beirut & Damascus, including @BenteScheller & @skayyali1, who would later challenge the conclusions the Gov based on their statements

The Feb 2019 Syria report coincided with the launch of “the paradigm shift” which saw Demnark's Social Dem Gov led by @mettefrederiksen cement their hardline stance on migration. Focus now shifted from integration to return

Coincidence? The report served a purpose for Migration Minister @MattiasTesfaye, who said: “I'm pleased to learn conditions in part of Syria have improved… those no longer in need of protection should return home & help rebuild their country.”

Soon after, @evasinger6, asylum head @DRC_ngo, put an OpEd in @altinget (popular w/politicians) criticising the Gov's response to the report: “Despite negotiations between the Gov of Syria & the UN, there are still no guarantees Syrians can return safely.”

Despite fact that @DRC_ngo, the report's lead contributor openly attacked the Gov's conclusions & 1000s of refugees were affected the story vanished. Why did no one listen to @evasinger6? Why did nobody check the other sources?

As Syrian refugees received an official letter this Easter, stating their asylum would not be extended, those are exactly the questions we asked at @LHreports and @Mediabridge_

One by one, the named sources in the report talked to us & a disturbing pattern emerged: Surprise & anger at having played an unwitting part in fostering the false narrative that Damascus is safe

The outlines of this story have been visible for 2yrs, it should concern people who care about public service media in Denmark that its only receiving attention now with 100s of people's futures at stake