Syrian regime condemns Europe's handling of refugee crisis

The Syrian regime is a master of "double speak", but its latest act of hypocrisy borders on sickening parody.

In response to the tough immigration laws of some Europe countries - as tens of thousands seek refuge from Syria in the continent - Damascus has condemned Europe's "shameful" handling of the crisis.

The toughly worded statement was made at Syria's council of ministers' meeting on Wednesday, attacking Europe's "disgraceful treatment" of Syrian refugees.

"[We condemn] some of the European countries for their violation of the principles of human rights, which makes such conduct similar to that of the armed terrorists' organisations," the council said, according to Syria's state news agency.

Damascus refers to all rebel groups as "terrorist organisations" and does not acknowledge most peaceful opposition groups.

"Terrorist organisations are pushing the Syrians away from their homes in some areas in Syria," read the statement. "The council pointed out that there are organised criminal gangs which are risking the lives of Syrian immigrants and their future."

"[We condemn] some of the European countries for their violation of the principles of human rights - Syria's council of ministers

Since the 2011 uprising in Syria descended into a bloodbath between the Syrian regime and rebel forces, more than 250,000 are thought to have died, and half the population of Syria has been made homeless.

The vast majority of Syria's 11 million refugees are from rebel-held territories, and are fleeing regime bombing, starvation sieges of towns, or punitive raids.

Many have been forced to live in terrible conditions internally in Syria, or find refuge in cash-strapped refugee camps in neighbouring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.

Few venture back to Syria, knowing they would be held with suspicion by the regime and likely be picked up by Syria's notorious security services.

After NGO groups managing the camps recently announced crippling cuts to their aid efforts to Syrian refugees, thousands have risked their lives by travelling to Europe through smuggling rings or individually.

Thousands have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe on notorious "death boats", while a new route through the Balkans has also seen many die, in the sea crossing from Turkey and Lebanon to Greece, or suffocating in trucks smuggling refugees to Central Europe.

Although Germany, Sweden and many others have opened their doors to the refugees, countries such as the UK have been criticised for not shouldering their share of Europe's refugee crisis.

In 2015, Germany expects to welcome in 800,000 refugees.

Regime bombing and shelling of rebel-held towns has been stepped up, killing more than 5,500 civilians in the past ten months, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

This death toll includes more than 2,380 in rebel-held Idlib province, which has seen some of the heaviest bombing in the war.