Syrian refugee elected mayor of German town, years after fleeing war | CNN

Syrian Refugee Becomes Mayor of German Town Amidst Rising Anti-Migrant Sentiment

In a surprise victory, Ryyan Alshebl, a 29-year-old Syrian refugee, has been elected as the new mayor of Ostelsheim, a small town in southern Germany. Alshebl's win marks a significant milestone for minority communities in Germany, where anti-immigration sentiment has been on the rise.

Alshebl fled Syria eight years ago and settled in Germany, where he became involved in local politics through his work at the administration of Althengstett town hall. His campaign focused on issues like digital access to public services, flexible childcare, and climate protection. Despite receiving hateful comments from far-right fringe voters during his campaign, Alshebl's message resonated with locals.

According to reports, Alshebl won 55.41% of the votes in the mayoral election, beating two German candidates. His victory has been welcomed by locals, who see it as a symbol of acceptance and inclusiveness. "The fairy tale has come true, and the right man has become our mayor," said Annette Keck, a resident of Ostelsheim.

Alshebl's win has also been praised by Germany's Integration Minister Manne Lucha, who said that the election showed the importance of diversity in German society. However, not everyone is celebrating his victory. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has criticized Alshebl's Syrian roots and accused him of being an "alien candidate."

As a first-generation immigrant himself, Alshebl understands the challenges faced by minority communities in Germany. He pledged during his campaign that he would prioritize issues affecting non-German citizens, including refugees and immigrants.

Alshebl's journey to becoming mayor is a testament to his determination and resilience. From fleeing war-torn Syria to settling in a new country, he has overcome many obstacles to build a life for himself and others. His election as mayor of Ostelsheim marks a significant moment for minority communities in Germany and serves as a reminder that diversity is a strength, not a weakness.

With his focus on digital access to public services, childcare, and climate protection, Alshebl is set to make a positive impact on the town of Ostelsheim. His win also shows that even in times of rising anti-immigration sentiment, there are still leaders who prioritize acceptance, inclusiveness, and social justice.

As Alshebl prepares to take office in June, he will become the first man with Syrian roots to hold the position of mayor in Germany. His victory is a reminder that every individual has the power to shape their community and create positive change.
 
omg i'm so happy for ryyan alshebl 🀩 he's literally proof that no matter where you come from or who you are, u can achieve anything u set ur mind 2! its amazing how much of a difference 1 person cn make in their community by just being themselves & focusing on issues thats matter 2 them. plus hes got a personal connection 2 what he's fightin 4 as a refugee himself πŸ™ i'm curious tho, wot made him decide 2 run 4 mayor? was it a desire 2 give back 2 his community or something els?
 
I'm low-key stoked about this news 🀩! An Syrian refugee becoming the mayor of a German town? That's like, totally a fairy tale come true ✨! It shows that even when there are people who don't understand or agree with us, we can still make a difference and achieve our goals. Ryyan Alshebl seems like an amazing guy, he's got a great message and he's all about making life better for everyone in the community 🌎.

I love how his campaign focused on issues that affect people from different backgrounds, it's so relatable and important 🀝. And to think that there were still some haters out there who didn't want him to be mayor? That just shows us that we've got to keep spreading love and acceptance ❀️.

It's also super inspiring to see a first-gen immigrant making history like this πŸ™Œ! He's an amazing role model for anyone who's ever felt like they don't quite fit in or are struggling to find their place. And I think it's so important that people are recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusiveness in our communities 🌈.

I'm not surprised that the AfD party is being super negative about this though πŸ˜’. They're always trying to stir up drama and division, but we can't let them win πŸ’ͺ! We need more leaders like Ryyan Alshebl who are all about spreading love, acceptance, and social justice ❀️.
 
I feel kinda good about this news, you know? Like its actually happening in real life, a Syrian refugee becoming mayor of a German town πŸ™. It's not like some fantasy movie or anything, but it's still super inspiring. I mean, Ryyan Alshebl went through so much to get here, from fleeing war to building a new life for himself and others. And now he gets to make a difference in his community 🌟. The fact that people in Ostelsheim are welcoming him with open arms is beautiful ❀️. It's like, yeah we can be different, but that doesn't mean we can't come together and do great things πŸ’–.
 
🀝 I think this is awesome, you know? Like, people are so quick to judge others based on where they come from or how they look, but Ryyan's story is all about perseverance and making a difference. He's not just some politician who's been handed a job, he's literally overcome so much hardship to get here. And his message of acceptance and inclusiveness is what really resonated with the people of Ostelsheim. I mean, sure, there were some haters out there, but it's great to see that more people saw the good in him. He's not just a Syrian refugee, he's a human being who wants to serve his community. And honestly, who wouldn't want to vote for someone with such a positive attitude? 😊
 
I mean, I'm not surprised that someone from outside the country won an election in Germany, but 55.41% is pretty crazy πŸ’₯. I just hope he can deliver on his promises without getting bogged down by all the politics. And what's with these hateful comments from the far-right fringe voters? Shouldn't we be focusing on building bridges rather than tearing people down? πŸ€”
 
Wow 😊🀩 Ostelsheim's new mayor Ryyan Alshebl just went from being a refugee to leading his town, that's amazing πŸ™ŒπŸ’₯ He really understands what minority communities go through, it's inspiring to see him prioritize their issues too πŸ’ͺ
 
man this is awesome πŸ€©πŸ‘ I was saying in my last comment about german politics how we need more diverse leaders, now it's like the whole town is thinking on same page πŸ‘Œ Alshebl's win means a lot to me as an immigrant myself, I feel like he understands what's going through our minds when we're feeling frustrated with system 🀯 But I'm glad to see that locals are supporting him 100% πŸ’• And yeah it's crazy how some far-right groups in Germany can still be so hateful πŸ™„
 
omg u gotta see this 🀯! Ryyan Alshebl just became the mayor of Ostelsheim, germany and im low-key shook πŸ˜‚πŸ™Œ he's like 29 and syrian refugee who moved to germany 8 yrs ago and now hes leading his town πŸ’ͺ it's like a dream come true for ppl who werent even born yet 🌟 i mean we know germany's got its issues with migration but this is like a major step forward πŸ‘ Alshebl's win shows that diversity is the way forward 🌈 not an alien candidate, lol afd πŸ˜‚
 
omg, this is so inspiring 🀩! Ryyan Alshebl's story is literally a fairy tale come true πŸ’«. I mean, who wouldn't want to see someone from Syria become mayor of a German town? it's like, Germany is all about being inclusive and accepting now 😊. But for real tho, this guy's determination and resilience are goals πŸ™Œ. He went through so much to get where he is today, from fleeing war-torn Syria to settling in a new country. And now, he's going to make a real difference in his community by prioritizing issues affecting minority communities 🀝.

I'm also loving how the Germans are welcoming him with open arms πŸŽ‰. It's like, they're showing everyone that diversity is not something to be afraid of, but rather celebrated πŸ’•. And I'm sure Ryyan Alshebl is going to bring so much positivity and energy to his role as mayor 🌞. Bring on the digital access to public services, flexible childcare, and climate protection initiatives πŸŽ‰!
 
OMG 🀩 this is so inspiring! I mean, think about it, someone who fled war and came to a new country as a refugee ends up becoming the mayor of a town. It's like, proof that we can overcome so much and still achieve our dreams πŸ’ͺ. And I love how he focused on issues like digital access and childcare - those are things we all need to live happy and healthy lives 🌟. I'm definitely not surprised that the far-right party is being super negative about it though... they just don't get it, you know? πŸ˜’ anyway, I'm so stoked for Ryyan Alshebl and the people of Ostelsheim - this is a great moment for Germany and for all the underdog stories out there πŸŽ‰
 
"Believe you can and you're halfway there." πŸš€ It's amazing how determination and resilience can take someone from fleeing war-torn Syria to becoming the mayor of a small German town! Ryyan Alshebl's win is a testament to the power of inclusivity and acceptance, especially in times when it seems like it's going out of style. Let's keep spreading love and positivity! πŸ’–
 
this is kinda crazy lol 🀯, like I know there's been some tension between old-timers and new folks in germany, but you don't expect one of 'em to get elected mayor! πŸ€” i'm thinking it's possible that the system was rigged or something, can't really make sense of how a 29-year-old Syrian refugee became the most popular guy in town overnight πŸ’₯.
 
THE CAPS LOCK CRUSADER HERE!!! 😊 I'M SO STOKED TO HEAR ABOUT RYYAN ALSHEBL BECOMING THE MAYOR OF OSTELSHAIM!!! IT'S LIKE, A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSIVENESS IN GERMANY RIGHT NOW! 🀝 AS A FIRST-GEN IMMIGRANT MYSELF, I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO ADAPT TO A NEW COUNTRY AND BUILD A LIFE FOR YOURSELF. BUT RYYAN ALSHEBL DIDN'T LET THAT STOP HIM FROM RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HIS COMMUNITY! πŸ’ͺ

I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT HE FOCUSED ON ISSUES LIKE DIGITAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES, CHILD CARE, AND CLIMATE PROTECTION. IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT YOU CAN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN YOUR COMMUNITY EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT FROM THE COUNTRY YET! 🌎 AND I LOVE HOW THE LOCALS ARE CELEBRATING HIS VICTORY - IT'S LIKE, WE SHOULD ALL BE CELEBRATING OUR Differences AND ACCEPTANCE OF ONE ANOTHER!!! πŸŽ‰
 
OMG 🀩 this is like, totally amazing news! A Syrian refugee becoming mayor of a small German town? That's like, a fairy tale come true πŸ’« I mean, we've been seeing so much hate speech and negativity towards refugees in the media lately, but this is like, the ultimate feel-good story ❀️. Ryyan Alshebl seems like an amazing guy who just wants to make a difference and help his community. His focus on digital access, childcare, and climate protection is exactly what we need more of πŸŒŽπŸ’»

I'm loving how the locals are embracing him and seeing him as one of their own. It's like, this is what acceptance and inclusivity look like in action 🀝. And let's be real, who better to represent a small German town than someone who's been through war and has come out stronger? πŸ’ͺ Alshebl's win shows that even in times of rising anti-immigration sentiment, there are still people who care about doing what's right ❀️.

I'm also loving how the government is recognizing the importance of diversity in German society. It's like, we need to celebrate our differences and not be afraid of them 🌈. Alshebl's election as mayor of Ostelsheim is a testament to that. Bring on positive change! 😊
 
this win for Ryyan Alshebl is like, super inspiring πŸ™Œ, shows us that even when ppl try to divide us with hate comments & stuff, we can still choose 2 b kinder & more accepting. alshelb's story is like a fairy tale come true, he went thru so much in syria & then became part of german society, now he's makin history by becomin mayor 🌟. it's about time ppl like him got the chance 2 lead & make a diff, not just 4 him but 4 all immigrant ppl out there who r facin da same challenges. we need more leaders like alshelb who care 'bout digital access, childcare, climate protection & social justice πŸ’»πŸ‘§πŸŒŽ
 
🀯 I'm low-key shocked that someone who's never even been born in Germany got elected as the mayor, but I guess it shows you can make a difference if you've got a good idea and a strong message! Ryyan Alshebl seems like an awesome guy who genuinely cares about his community. The fact that he faced backlash from far-right voters just goes to show how divided our society is right now. Anyway, let's give this dude props for being a beacon of hope in these uncertain times! 🌟
 
Yaaas πŸŽ‰ this is amazing news! I'm beyond proud of Ryyan Alshebl for making history as the first Syrian refugee mayor of Ostelsheim. It's a huge step forward for Germany in terms of acceptance and inclusivity. I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a town where the mayor just so happens to be a Syrian refugee? 😊 He's got my vote too! His focus on digital access, childcare, and climate protection is exactly what we need more of in our communities. And to all the haters out there who said he couldn't do it because of his background... yeah, they were wrong πŸ™„. Alshebl's story is a testament to the power of determination and resilience. Let's celebrate this win and keep pushing for a more inclusive and accepting society! πŸ’–
 
😊 1st gen immigrant wins mayoral election in Germany πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ - gotta respect this dude's story! he went from war-torn Syria to leading his new town, ain't easy fam πŸ‘. but what I love is how he kept it real and didn't let the hate bring him down πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ. people are saying diversity is a strength not a weakness, and Ryyan's win proves that πŸ’ͺ. and let's be real, climate protection and digital access to public services? this guy's got some real skills 😎. the town of Ostelsheim just gained an amazing leader! 🌟
 
I'm low-key shocked this guy actually won 🀯, I mean Ostelsheim's like 1 town away from Munich or something... still gotta respect Alshebl for speaking truth to power & standing up against anti-immigrant rhetoric πŸ’ͺ he's def making Germany proud & proving that diversity is the key to growth. AfD needs to chill out tho πŸ‘Ž let him do his thing & make a real difference in Ostelsheim πŸ™Œ
 
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