TEHRAN – A South Alabama University professor says “there are many countries that are responsible for the current refugee crisis facing Europe.”

Nader Entessar tells the Tehran Times that “the countries that devised the plan to topple the government of Syria several years ago and then started funding and arming extremists and terrorists such as Daesh must be viewed as primarily responsible for the current state of affairs.”
Following is the text of the interview:
Q: The refugee crisis in Europe is intensifying. Which countries are guilty for the crisis?
A: There are many countries that are responsible for the current refugee crisis facing Europe. The countries that devised the plan to topple the government of Syria several years ago and then started funding and arming extremists and terrorists such as Daesh must be viewed as primarily responsible for the current state of affairs. Obviously, the Western countries that have supported countries such as Saudi Arabia must also bear responsibility for the refugee crisis and the broader disintegration of countries like Libya, Syria and Iraq.
Q: What is the role of the U.S. in creation of such a situation in the Middle East?
A: The U.S. policies in the Middle East are certainly contributing factors to the current refugee crisis. However, the roots of the refugee crisis go much deeper than what the United States has done and not done in the region. There are numerous political and social problems that have bedeviled the region for a long time. There is no single root cause of the current malaise in the region.
Q: Why some countries in Europe are not eager to accept the refugee?
A: There are severe economic problems in many European countries that prevents them from accepting large number of refugees. In other words, many European countries have limited absorptive capacity. In addition, the anti-immigrant (especially anti-Muslim immigrant) mood is Europe is strong, and this factor plays a role in Europe's approach to Middle Eastern refugees.

*********Highlight*********
The countries that devised the plan to topple the government of Syria several years ago and then started funding and arming extremists and terrorists such as Daesh must be viewed as primarily responsible for the current state of affairs