The Impact of Paris Attack on the Syrian Refugee Crisis

International Response to Paris Attack

Paris attack attracted different multinational views, especially on Syrian refugees. In unison, most nations have come to terms with the growing atrocities of ISIS and the need for fast military action against the group. On the other hand, the state of the refugees seeking solace in Europe and America has been jeopardized. Many nations have acted swiftly to block their borders while others have created stricter documentation policies.  Based on the reactions following the attack, Syrians refugees are expected to meet more challenges.

After a Syrian passport had been recovered from one of the attackers, it became apparent that the inflow of refugees in any country could propagate more attacks.  France’s immediate reaction was to close its borders, and come with new refugee measures. The reaction was a reversal of the national’s original sympathetic policies. After one of the terrorist’s fingerprints identified that, he entered Europe through Aegean island of Leros, a heightened debate ensued of the possibility of the Islamic State terrorists capitalizing on Syrian refugees sympathy to commit atrocities in Europe (El-Sheikh 1).

On the Tuesday following the attack, Turkey’s antiterrorism officials captured an eight men gang suspected to belong to the Islamic State terrorists. The suspects originated from Casablanca in Morocco and had a plan of entering Germany through Greece. The capture further fueled the belief that ISIS were taking advantage of refugees’ goodwill in Europe. Most Western nations reacted in a different way towards the Syrian refugees’ crisis, following the incidences. Commonly, stricter refugee policies have been enacted with some nations closing their borders.

A significant number of U.S.A. Governors decided to close their borders to the refugees. The move comes as a protectionist ideology and the fact that ISIS has their based in Syria. The U.S. Congress members are also working tirelessly to block President Obama’s proposal of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees. Both U.S. and other European citizens fear the possible consequences of the Syrian refugees’ infiltration into their nation. However, the U.N. officials and the U.S. president have called rationality in the treatment of the refugees (Tajha 1).    

Turkey has put tighter measures to curb the infiltration of the refugees through her nation’s coasts. The Turk’s have admitted that operating the cost have overwhelmed them, considering the influx of the refugees.  While Turkey is seeking impasse across his borders, Europe is more than willing to fund the nation to continue helping the destitute.

The Greeks are coming with ways to ensure they remain safe, but at the same time housed the refugees in the coming cruel winters. Among them, include patrolling its waters and keeping smugglers outside the nation’s territory. Greek and Turkey have agreed to work together in combing out smugglers outside their waters, and other routes. However, the two nations have not come up with a clear path of handling the situation. Greek is considering offering more Visa for people in Turkey at a promise that the immigrant levels will reduce (Tajha 1).

Religious Views 

Diverse elucidations concerning the Quran exist even among Muslim jurists and law pundits. The Gulf war of 1991 provides a clear portrait of those differences; some Muslim jurist sided with the Americans in its invasion of Iraq while others supported Iraq. Such differences underscore the fact that interpretations of the book remain dissimilar. Another issue that has attracted intense debate has been that of perpetual suicidal deaths by Moslems with many within the Islam faith questioning its correlation with the Quran. To some, suicidal deaths denote being loyal to the book, while others hold contrary opinions.

According to the Quran, a true Muslim is one who caring, which implies being concerned about the welfare of others whether a family member or a stranger. In addition to bidding Muslims care for the sick and orphans, it urges them to be ready to help those asking for support. The principle has seen many Eastern nations following the paths of their Western ones in dealing with the Syrian crisis (Mcarty 644). The Islamic States have shown the same trend as those of their Western counterparts, sympathizing with the refugees, and at the same divided in opinion. Nations such as Iran have shown a lot of interest in helping the refugees and even fighting alongside the European nations, and at the same time fear the security challenges of the extremists. Unlike the past terror wars, the Paris attack has never been linked to any particular Islamic state, but an extremist group.

Political Divisions

While many nation have altered their refugees’ tactics, some feel fear has created injustice and inhumane treatment of the refugees. There is a lot of sense in trying to make refugee processing tighter, but there a lot of inhumanity in barring them. Many countries have criticized the states, which have closed their borders to the refugees. President Obama is among the people who believe that a move is an inhuman act against the helpless Syrian children and woman. While Paris attack rekindled a new perception of the Syrian refugees, it has also attracted several debates on the Muslim culture. Muslims have been rebranded with terror activities, similar to the 9/11 attack.  However, leaders have come strongly to defend the religion (Cohen 1).

The Paris attack has sawn a new seed in national politics; there is no longer national unity in making a decision about the refugees. When French President, came up with tight measures against the refugees, it was believed that all the Western nations would support the ideas since a common treaty joins them. However, many European nations criticized the decision, including Germany, who continue to welcome the refugees but advocated for tighter policies. Greece and Turkey are among the nations who are after the enactment of enabling refugees’ policies rather than blocking them. French citizens have continued to welcome the refugees, despite the attack. It is true that the world is growing conscious in isolating ISIS activities and the Muslim community.

The United States have faced a lot of criticism both internally and outside. The decision by some governors to close their territories has been considered. The decision to close the border is never political, not Democratic, or the Republican one. Even Democratic governors have rejected the idea of settling Syrian into their country. While ISIS is a real threat and which disguises itself in some theological frameworks, the worldview of the refugees is the real threat to the innocence women and children suffering in the deserts and cold. The U.S. itself is divided in the treatment of the refugees, with a section considering proper screening strategies for the refugees while others consider blocking their borders. Unlike the World War or the reaction to the World Trade Center attack, there is no any pattern in reaction to the refugees’ crisis (Mcarty 650). There are sympathizers as well as those who have rebranded as part of extremist. The Paris attack failed to attract the strong hatred for Muslims as was expected, rather rational humanity thinking has been invoked.

Works Cited

Cohen, Roger. To save Paris, Defeat ISIS. Web. 14 November 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/14/opinion/to-have-paris-defeat-isis.html?smid=pl-share&_r=0

El-Sheikh, Sarah. Will Syrian refugees in Europe suffer consequences of Paris attacks? 14 November 2015. http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2015/11/14/will-syrian-refugees-in-europe-suffer-consequences-of-paris-attacks/

Mcarty, Philip. Integrated perspectives in Global Studies. University of California: Santa Barbara. 2013. Print.

Tajha, Chappellet-Lanier . What’s Next for Migrants After Paris? 14 November 2015. http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/migrant-crisis-paris-attacks/416067/