A Syrian refugee has made history by becoming the first person with Syrian roots to win a mayoral election in Germany. Ryyan Alshebl, 29, who fled his hometown of As Suwayda eight years ago, secured 55.41% of the votes in the municipality of Ostelsheim, beating two German candidates.
The young politician's victory was met with cheers from locals, who described it as a "sensational" win for broad-mindedness and cosmopolitanism in their conservative town. Alshebl told local broadcaster SWR that his election showed that diversity is not something to be taken for granted, especially in rural areas like Ostelsheim.
The 29-year-old's journey to becoming the mayor began when he left Syria at 21 and made the perilous journey from Turkey to Greece on a rubber dinghy. He was granted German citizenship after working in administration for seven years and running on a platform of digital access, flexible childcare, and climate protections.
Alshebl's victory has been hailed as a triumph for diversity and inclusivity, with Integration Minister Manne Lucha saying it showed that migration history should not be a barrier to politics. However, not everyone has welcomed the young politician's win, with some receiving hateful comments during his campaign.
Despite the challenges he faced, Alshebl remained committed to his vision of creating a more inclusive and sustainable community. He is set to take office in June and become the first person with Syrian roots to hold this position.
As Ostelsheim residents celebrated their new mayor, they praised Alshebl's commitment to investing in the future of their town. One resident told SWR that "the fairy tale has come true" and that the right man had become their mayor. Meanwhile, one of his opponents, Marco Strauss, congratulated Alshebl on his win while calling for support for his shared community.
Alshebl's story is a testament to the resilience and determination of refugees who have made Germany their home. From fleeing war-torn Syria to becoming a leader in their new community, Alshebl's journey shows that with hard work and dedication, anyone can achieve their dreams.
The young politician's victory was met with cheers from locals, who described it as a "sensational" win for broad-mindedness and cosmopolitanism in their conservative town. Alshebl told local broadcaster SWR that his election showed that diversity is not something to be taken for granted, especially in rural areas like Ostelsheim.
The 29-year-old's journey to becoming the mayor began when he left Syria at 21 and made the perilous journey from Turkey to Greece on a rubber dinghy. He was granted German citizenship after working in administration for seven years and running on a platform of digital access, flexible childcare, and climate protections.
Alshebl's victory has been hailed as a triumph for diversity and inclusivity, with Integration Minister Manne Lucha saying it showed that migration history should not be a barrier to politics. However, not everyone has welcomed the young politician's win, with some receiving hateful comments during his campaign.
Despite the challenges he faced, Alshebl remained committed to his vision of creating a more inclusive and sustainable community. He is set to take office in June and become the first person with Syrian roots to hold this position.
As Ostelsheim residents celebrated their new mayor, they praised Alshebl's commitment to investing in the future of their town. One resident told SWR that "the fairy tale has come true" and that the right man had become their mayor. Meanwhile, one of his opponents, Marco Strauss, congratulated Alshebl on his win while calling for support for his shared community.
Alshebl's story is a testament to the resilience and determination of refugees who have made Germany their home. From fleeing war-torn Syria to becoming a leader in their new community, Alshebl's journey shows that with hard work and dedication, anyone can achieve their dreams.
I'm literally shook by this news! Ryyan's win is like, the ultimate symbol of how far we've come as a society 
. It's crazy to think about how far he's come from being a refugee to becoming a mayor - it just goes to show that with the right mindset and support, anyone can achieve their goals 
. I'm so down for more people like Ryyan breaking down barriers and bringing diversity to politics 
. And can we talk about how refreshing it is to see someone who's not afraid to be themselves and speak out on issues they care about? 
Alshebl's win is definitely a sign of the times, and I'm here for it 
!
RYAN AL-SHEBL'S VICTORY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF DREAMS AND HARD WORK! HE FLEW ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST IN A RUBBER DINGHY JUST TO GET HERE, AND NOW HE'S GOING TO BE MAYOR!!! IT'S TIME FOR MORE PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TO STEP UP AND LEAD. I MEAN, WHO BETTER QUALIFIED THAN SOMEONE WHO'VE LIVED AS BOTH SYRIAN REFUGEE AND GERMAN CITIZEN?! THIS IS WHAT WE NEED MORE OF - LEADERS WHO GET IT AND UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE!
just saw this stat - 40% of mayors in Germany are from immigrant backgrounds 
did some research and found out that in 2020, Germany saw a record high of 1.3 million asylum seekers arrive 
Alshebl's win is definitely giving hope for more diverse representation in politics 
here's an interesting fact - the top 5 countries of origin for Syrian refugees in Germany are Turkey (25%), Iran (15%), Iraq (12%), Lebanon (10%), and Pakistan (6%) 
I mean, we should be celebrating diversity and inclusivity, not giving hate comments to people who are just trying to make a difference. 
It's about time someone with Syrian roots took the lead in politics, especially in a conservative town like Ostelsheim. 
The fact that he won on a platform of digital access, flexible childcare, and climate protections is amazing. We need more people like Ryan Alshebl who are passionate about creating positive change. 
29yo Syrian refugee becomes first with Syrian roots to win mayoral election in Germany 
. Thinks it's a big deal diversity shouldnt be taken for granted 
, especially in small towns where its easy to get closed off 
. Ostelsheim is like that btw 
. Glad some ppl r supporting him tho 
. But now he's gonna be the mayor of Ostelsheim, beating 2 German candidates 
. Let's give it up for Ryyan Alshebl - he's proof that with hard work & determination, anyone can achieve their dreams 
. Can't wait to see the impact he'll make as mayor 
!
what's next? More refugees taking on leadership roles? 
this kid is proof that no matter where you're from or what u've been through, u can achieve anything if u set ur mind 2 it 
, but Alshebl just ignored them and kept on going 
but seriously though, it's like Germany's finally embracing its diversity and saying "hey we're not just about traditional stuff anymore" 
I'm so hyped for him!! He came from zero to mayor with his Syrian roots & story is honestly so inspiring! 
Germany is getting cooler & more inclusive by the day