Syrian refugee elected mayor of German town, years after fleeing war
Cnn
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In 2015, he won the mayor’s election in the state of Baden-Württemberg, a Syria, which came to Germany as a refugee.
Eight years ago, Ryan Alshebl, who left his hometown Suwayda in Syria, ran independently in the Ostelsheim Municipality. On Sunday, he won 55.41% of the votes and defeated two German candidates Marco Strauss and Mathias Fey.
In a statement on Monday, the German local publisher SWR cheered up with a victory he described as “sensational” when the locals met their victory.
“Today, Ostelsheim sent an example for the entire Germany and cosmopolitanism,” he said, according to the German public publisher ZDF. “This is not something that can be given in a conservative, rural area.”
SWR reported that Alshebl’s first call after the victory was excited to his mother in Syria.
Baden-Württemberg Municipalities Association said that Alshebl was the first man to win the office of a mayor. It will begin its role in June.
Ostelsheim residents welcomed the mayors who came from. Annette Keck, who lives in the village, said, “Fairy tale took place and the right man became our mayor.”
Strauss, one of his competitors, congratulated Alshebl. “I wish you good luck and ask for support for Mr. Alshebl, for our shared Ostelsheim,” Facebook said on Facebook.
The state’s Integration Minister Manne Lucha said that Alshebl’s victory is a natural part of Baden-Württemberg. “I would be very glad if Ryyan Alshebl’s choice encourages more people to manage more people for the political office,” he said.
Not everyone was so hot for the 29 -year -old child. ZDF reported that Syria received hateful comments about the campaign trail.
The young politician went to the house by encouraging the election program and “experiences were predominantly positive”, but there was a minority of extreme right -wing voters who did not want to accept him because of his roots in Syria.
According to the campaign website, a teacher and agricultural engineer in Syria, Doğan Alshebl described his life as an ancry -free until the age of 20.
At that time, protests against the Syrian government that began in 2011 soon became a chaotic war. The struggle of ISIS and the later rise forced 10.6 million people from home until the end of 2015.
According to the website, Alshebl faced the dilemma of preparing for military service with the Syrian army or leaving the country.
Many Syrian internally displaced or escaped to the countries in the region, while others made a dangerous journey to Europe. He was 21 years old and said he had passed from Türkiye to the Greek island with a rubber boat.
In 2015, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel implemented a short open -door policy in the following years, including the country’s Alshebl.
The movement led to a sudden growth of the anti -immigration alternative for Germany (AFD) after a reaction in Germany and after 2015.
Once in Germany, he lived close to Alshebl Ostelsheim and said at that time he felt that he felt only one thing you can do: quickly go back and start investing in your own future quickly ”.
For the last seven years, he has worked in Althengstettett Municipality building in a neighboring town. He said that he was withdrawn from his experience in his campaign and made digital access to public administration services one of the priorities. Flexible child care and climatic protection are also on the agenda.
Alshebl, a member of the Green Party and is currently German citizenship, promised to move to Ostelsheim, who was once elected as the mayor.
