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

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Germany's Small Town Elected Its First Syrian Mayor After Years of War in Syria.

Ryyan Alshebl, who fled Syria eight years ago to escape the ongoing war, has been elected as the new mayor of Ostelsheim, a small town in southern Germany. The 29-year-old politician secured 55.41% of the votes in Sunday's election, defeating two German candidates.

Alshebl's victory is seen as a significant moment for diversity and integration in Germany, with many locals hailing his win as a celebration of broad-mindedness and cosmopolitanism. Alshebl himself described it as "sensational" and attributed his success to the town's openness to newcomers.

The Syrian-born politician comes from a family of schoolteacher and agricultural engineer parents. He fled Syria at 21 after his country descended into chaos, facing a tough decision between serving in the army or leaving the country. Alshebl ultimately chose to leave with his family, crossing from Turkey to Greece before eventually settling in Germany.

His journey is reminiscent of the tumultuous period that saw 10.6 million people displaced by war and conflict in Syria by late 2015, with many taking perilous journeys to seek refuge abroad. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's brief open-door policy in 2015 brought a large influx of asylum seekers to Germany.

Alshebl, who has since become a naturalized German citizen, worked for seven years at the local town hall before running for mayor on the Green Party ticket. His campaign focused on digital access to public services, flexible childcare, and climate protections.

Despite initial backlash against Merkel's immigration policy in 2015, which fueled the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, Alshebl's victory is seen as a testament to Ostelsheim's progressive values and its commitment to diversity.
 
I'm so happy for him 🎉😊! I was just reading about how some people in Germany didn't want immigrants back in 2015... but it looks like they're all welcoming Ryyan now, which is awesome 🤩. So he's been living here for eight years and has become a naturalized German citizen, that's crazy to think about... did you know you have to go through so much paperwork just to get your passport sorted out in Germany? 😂 I'm still trying to figure out how they do online banking over there...
 
🤝 Just amazing news! A Syrian-born politician becoming the first one from Syria to be elected as a mayor in a German town is such an incredible milestone. It shows that even after all those years of fleeing war, someone can still make it big and get elected for public service. 🌟 I'm glad that Ostelsheim's openness to newcomers has led to this beautiful representation of diversity. As someone who's lived through their fair share of ups and downs, I believe that this kind of acceptance is exactly what our communities need more of. Let's hope we see more people from all walks of life taking on leadership roles like Ryan Alshebl! 🙏
 
man this is so cool 🤩 I remember when I was younger my grandma told me about her own experiences with refugees coming to our country and it always stuck with me that we're all human beings deserving of respect and a chance at a better life 💖 Ryyan Alshebl's story is truly inspiring, especially given the challenges he faced as a young man fleeing war in Syria. It's amazing to see how one person can make such a positive impact on their community 🌈 I'm glad that Ostelsheim is sending a message of inclusivity and acceptance - it's a powerful reminder that we're all stronger together 💪
 
🙌 OMG, this is amazing news! 🤩 A Syrian mayor in Germany? That's like, full circle, right? He went from fleeing war-torn Syria to becoming a leader in the country that took him in. I mean, it's not just about his win, but about what it says about Ostelsheim as a town. They're like, super open-minded and welcoming. I'm all about diversity and inclusivity 💖. It's also cool that he's a Green Party candidate, they're always pushing for climate change action and social justice. Can't wait to see how this plays out 🤔
 
omg what a game changer this guy ryan alshebl is like literally a beacon of hope 4 germany 🌟🇩🇪 i mean who needs politicians like that in europe anyway? 8 yrs after fleeing war he makes it big as mayor, its like he's proof dat anyone can make a difference w/ hard work & determination. plus hes got some solid ideas 4 climate change & public services too, lets get behind this guy! 😊👏
 
🤯 I'm loving this vibes in Ostelsheim, you know? It's like, totally awesome that they're embracing someone from Syria as their new mayor 🌎. I mean, we've been talking about diversity and inclusion for ages, but it's still super refreshing to see it happen in real life. Alshebl's story is so inspiring, too - fleeing war and finding a new home through hard work and determination 💪. And Germany's always been known for being open-minded, I guess this just proves it 🤝. It's not gonna change the world overnight or anything, but small towns like Ostelsheim are where real progress starts 💕.
 
I'm glad to see this positive change happening in Germany 🙌, but can we talk about the platform that made this possible? I mean, have you noticed how outdated our voting system still is? Like, we're still using paper ballots and whatnot... shouldn't we be able to vote online by now? 🤯 And don't even get me started on the voting turnout in this election - 55.41%? That's kinda low if you ask me 📊. I'm all for celebrating diversity, but can we also celebrate some modernization? 😂
 
🙌 The fact that a Syrian-born person was elected as the mayor of Ostelsheim after fleeing war-torn Syria 8 years ago is like, totally mind-blowing 🤯! It shows how far Germany has come in terms of acceptance and integration, especially when it comes to people from diverse backgrounds. I mean, we're living in 2025 and the fact that Angela Merkel's open-door policy was seen as a challenge just a decade ago is wild 🌪️. But seriously, Ryan Alshebl's story is an inspiration, not just for him but for everyone who's ever felt like they don't quite fit in. It's about time we celebrate our differences and create spaces where people can thrive without fear of judgment or rejection. Ostelsheim deserves a big round of applause for this amazing win 🎉!
 
omg this is such amazing news 🙌🏼! i mean, who would've thought that a syrian immigrant could become the mayor of a small german town? it just goes to show that Germany is still all about being super inclusive and welcoming to people from different backgrounds 🤝. ryan alshebl's story is really inspiring - he had to make so many tough decisions when he was fleeing war in syria, but he chose to leave his family behind rather than risk everything... anyway, i'm just so happy that he got the chance to start a new life and make a difference in his community 💖. it's also super cool that his campaign focused on issues like digital access and climate protection - shows that even small towns can be progressive and forward-thinking 🌟
 
This is amazing news 🤩! I'm so happy to see a Syrian-born mayor being elected in a small German town after years of war. It's like the whole town came together to say "welcome" to Ryan Alshebl, you know? He's not just a politician, he's also a human being who had to make really tough choices when his country was going through so much chaos. I love how he credited the town's openness for his win – it just goes to show that Germany is still a great place to call home 🌟. As a parent, I'm especially happy to see kids like Ryan growing up in such an inclusive and accepting environment. Can we say "hope" for more towns like Ostelsheim? Fingers crossed!
 
just saw this news about ryyan alshebl becoming germany's first syrian mayor 😊 and i gotta say its pretty awesome! i mean, its not every day u see someone from the war zone makin it big in politics, right? 🤯 ostelsheim is def doin somethin right, havin a town hall rep who understands what its like to be on the other side of immigration policy...like, who wouldn't wanna have more diverse voices in leadership positions lol. Alshebl's story is actually pretty inspiring too, from fleein syria at 21 to now bein mayor at 29 - that takes skill & determination 🙌 i just hope his win inspires more ppl to get involved in politics, especially those who might not think they can make a difference...anyway, here's to ryyan alshebl and the future of germany's progressive values 💪
 
omg I'm literally hyped 🤩 about Ryyan Alshebl being elected as the first Syrian mayor in Ostelsheim! this is like, totally a dream come true for refugees like him who have been through so much already 🌟 he's proof that even after everything, people can find hope and make a difference in their communities 💪 alshebl's win shows that germany is all about embracing diversity and giving people a second chance - i'm literally crying happy tears 😭 the green party's focus on digital access, childcare, and climate protections is so on point 🤩 we need more of this kind of progressive thinking!
 
😊 I'm still trying to wrap my head around this - a Syrian born and raised person becomes the first Syrian mayor in a German town after all these years! It just goes to show that with open hearts and minds, we can overcome so much. I mean, Ryyan Alshebl's journey is pretty inspiring, from fleeing war-torn Syria as a young adult to becoming a respected leader in his new community. The fact that he won the election by such a landslide just proves that Ostelsheim is all about embracing diversity and making everyone feel welcome 🌎💖 What really gets me is how this is happening amidst all the controversy around immigration policies - it's like, can't we just appreciate the humanity in each other? 🤗
 
omg u wont believe this 🤯 so theres this guy ryan who moved from syria 8 yrs ago cuz of war & now hes mayor of this tiny town in germany? like what even is the odds? i guess it shows germany is pretty open-minded & stuff. but how does he feel about leaving his fam behind tho? idk its kinda inspiring actually tho, im all for people chasing their dreams and trying to make a diff 😊
 
OMG, isn't this just the most amazing thing? 🤩 A Syrian mayor in a small German town? It's like, whoa! The fact that Ryyan Alshebl was able to overcome so much (like, leaving his home country after war broke out) and still become a leader here is truly inspiring. I mean, 8 years ago he had to flee Syria, can you even imagine how hard it must've been for him? And now look at him, becoming the mayor of Ostelsheim! It's like proof that Germany is indeed welcoming and inclusive, no matter where people come from. I'm all about celebrating diversity & cosmopolitanism 🌎💖, and this just makes me so happy to see it happening in real life 😊
 
🤯 I'm loving this win! It's crazy to think about how far Syria has come (or been torn apart) in just a decade. Ryan Alshebl's story is so inspiring - going from war-torn refugee to naturalized German citizen, all while staying true to his values. Germany needs more people like him who aren't afraid to speak up and make a difference! 🌎💪
 
OMG, I'm so hyped about this 🤩! Like, can you even believe that Germany has elected its first Syrian mayor? It's literally a huge deal for the country's acceptance of diversity and integration, right? Alshebl's story is so inspiring too - he had to leave Syria with his family when he was 21, facing such a tough decision... but he chose to pursue his dreams and now he's leading his community as mayor. It's like, proof that even in the darkest times, there's always hope for a better future 🌟 And it's amazing how Ostelsheim has taken Alshebl under its wing, embracing him as one of their own! This is definitely a step forward for cosmopolitanism and open-mindedness 👏
 
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