Assad may have gone, but Syrians who've made a life abroad are scared of being forced home

Streets are lined with shops named after Syrian cities; reminders of the lives many fled due to war. Germany's taken in the most Syrian refugees in the European Union.

Yamn Moahen, manager of the Aldimashqi Restaurant, is one of just under a million Syrian nationals currently living in the country.

He's not ready to go home yet: "It's not safe. There is no security right now, so it would be a bad idea to send people back so early," he says.

Yamn joined huge crowds filling the neighbourhood as they celebrated the fall of Assad.

But then Germany announced it was temporarily freezing asylum applications for Syrians and for some the excitement quickly turned to fear of being forced home too soon.

"I pay taxes and do nothing illegal, am I just supposed to close everything and go home?" Yamn says.

"They can't just tell us to go back; there are so many here who have already opened businesses and have been successful - so many doctors, engineers, or students who are still studying; children who are born here and can speak German," he adds.

The number of Syrian refugees in Germany surged after Angela Merkel launched her open-door policy in 2015 under which around a million asylum seekers arrived in a year.

Many Germans greeted them warmly, holding up welcome signs at train stations and applauding as they arrived.

It was during that time that new arrival Anas Modamani took a selfie with former Chancellor Merkel.

Almost a decade on he says the mood has hardened.

"I don't feel welcome anymore. I get the feeling that Germany wants to throw us out as soon as possible. Even if we have worked hard and integrated ourselves, we're not welcome," he tells me.

I ask him why he thinks the atmosphere may have changed?

"Some Syrians had done something awful, such as stabbed someone, but that was very rare but people were still afraid. And others were jealous... they think, 'How can people from Syria come here and open businesses with three shops?'" he says.

The German Interior Ministry has underlined that the Syrian asylum freeze will impact around 47,000 applications currently being processed and is only until the situation in the country becomes clear.

However, the move announced just days after Assad fled and echoed by a handful of European countries has left people worrying what's next?

Is more dramatic action on the way?

"Many European countries have said they'll stop allowing asylum applications; I find it completely unacceptable because the situation in Syria is still dangerous just as it was before and we don't know yet who will be in charge," Anas says.

A snap general election is expected next year in Germany, and some warn that the discussion about the return of refugees risks becoming an election issue which will boost populist parties.

The anti-immigration far right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is currently second in the polls and migration is a top concern for many voters.

Some Syrians fear, if that party gets in, they'll get kicked out: "It truly depends on how this debate plays out in the public sphere," says Liam Haller, an expert from the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM).

"If right leaning parties like the AfD and the CDU believe that they have a mandate from the people to enact these deportations, I strongly believe that they will act upon this."

"So, I think the voices from Syrians themselves and the voices from the electorate at large can determine how strongly whoever is elected will respond," he added.

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Some Germans, like Konrad, told us they believe Syrians should return home once it is safe.

At the German Christmas market in central Berlin, goodwill is on display, but it's nearing its limit.

"Syria has to become safe," says German voter, Konrad.

"Once that is guaranteed, people who have no job, no life, no family here and other strong connections should leave."

So, after all the celebrations, many now feel trepidation; fearing Assad's removal might be followed by theirs, scared that they'll be forced back to a new but still unstable Syria.

-SKY NEWS