By Peter Devane.
A Syrian individual who came to Germany seeking refuge in 2015 has triumphantly secured a mayoral position in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg.
Ryyan Alshebl, who departed from his birthplace of As Suwayda in Syria eight years ago, contested the election as an independent candidate in the municipality of Ostelsheim. He garnered 55.41% of the votes on Sunday, surpassing two German contenders, Marco Strauss and Mathias Fey.
The locals celebrated the 29-year-old when he embraced his victory, which he labeled as “extraordinary,” according to German broadcaster SWR on Monday.
“Today, Ostelsheim set an example of open-mindedness and cosmopolitan values for all of Germany,” he stated, as reported by German public broadcaster ZDF. “This is not something to be taken for granted in a conservative, rural region.”
After his election win, Alshebl’s first call was to his mother in Syria, who was overjoyed with the news, SWR reported.
The Association of Municipalities of Baden-Württemberg announced that Alshebl is the first person of Syrian descent to campaign for and secure a mayoral role. He is set to begin his duties in June.
Residents of Ostelsheim have enthusiastically embraced their new mayor. “The fairy tale has come true, and the right person has become our mayor,” Annette Keck, a villager, expressed to SWR.
Strauss, one of his competitors, congratulated Alshebl. “I wish you well and simultaneously request support for Mr. Alshebl, for our shared Ostelsheim,” he remarked on Facebook.
The state’s Integration Minister Manne Lucha emphasized that Alshebl’s achievement illustrates that diversity is a natural part of Baden-Württemberg. “I would be very pleased if Ryyan Alshebl’s election inspires more individuals with migration backgrounds to pursue political roles,” he commented.
However, not everyone has been welcoming towards the 29-year-old. ZDF reported that the Syrian encountered hostile remarks during his campaign.
The young politician went door to door, advocating his election platform, and noted that “the experiences were mainly positive,” but there was also a faction of far-right voters in Ostelsheim who rejected him due to his Syrian origins, Alshebl shared with ZDF.
Born to a teacher and an agricultural engineer in Syria, Alshebl recounted his life as worry-free until he turned 20, according to his campaign website.
At that point, protests against the Syrian government, which started in 2011, rapidly escalated into chaotic warfare. The violence and subsequent emergence of ISIS forced 10.6 million people from their homes by late 2015 – roughly half of Syria’s pre-war population.
Alshebl faced the agonizing choice of being conscripted for military duty in the Syrian army or fleeing the country, as stated on his website.
While numerous Syrians were displaced internally or escaped to neighboring nations, others like Alshebl undertook the perilous journey to Europe. At 21 years old, he recounted crossing from Turkey to the Greek island of Lesbos in a small rubber boat.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel implemented a brief open-door policy in 2015, allowing the nation to accept around 1.2 million asylum seekers in subsequent years, including Alshebl.
This move provoked a backlash in Germany and prompted the rapid growth of the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) following the summer of 2015.
Once in Germany, Alshebl resided near Ostelsheim and acknowledged that he felt “there is only one thing you can do: get back on your feet quickly and begin working towards your future.”
For the past seven years, he worked in the administration of Althengstett town hall in a neighboring locality. He drew from his experiences, stating in his campaign that he prioritized making public administrative services digitally accessible. Flexible childcare and climate protection are also key components of his agenda.
Alshebl, a member of the Green Party and now a German citizen, promised during his campaign that upon being elected mayor, he would relocate to Ostelsheim.
