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

A Syrian refugee has won the mayoral election in a small German town 8 years after fleeing war-torn Syria. Ryyan Alshebl, who arrived in Germany as a refugee in 2015, ran as an independent candidate in the municipality of Ostelsheim and secured 55.41% of the votes, beating two local candidates.

Alshebl's victory was met with cheers from locals, who celebrated what they described as a "fairy tale" coming true. The 29-year-old politician welcomed his win, calling it "sensational." He also emphasized the importance of broad-mindedness and cosmopolitanism in Germany, saying that Ostelsheim has set an example for the whole country.

Alshebl's first call after his victory was to his mother in Syria, who was thrilled with the news. The young politician's journey to becoming a German citizen is a remarkable story. Born to a schoolteacher and agricultural engineer in Syria, Alshebl left his home at the age of 20 due to the Syrian government's protests that soon turned into war.

Alshebl faced the difficult decision of either being drafted for military service with the Syrian army or leaving the country. He chose to leave, crossing from Turkey to Greece by rubber dinghy and eventually settling in Ostelsheim, where he worked in local administration before running for mayor.

During his campaign, Alshebl emphasized the importance of digital access to public services, flexible childcare, and climate protection. As a member of the Green Party, he pledged to move to Ostelsheim after winning the election.

Alshebl's victory has been hailed as a sign of Germany's commitment to diversity and integration. The state's Integration Minister Manne Lucha praised Alshebl's win, saying that it showed that diversity is a natural part of Baden-Württemberg. However, not everyone was happy with the outcome. Alshebl received hateful comments on his campaign trail from far-right fringe voters who opposed his Syrian roots.

Despite this, Alshebl remains committed to serving his new community and bringing about positive change. His election is a testament to the power of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.

I'm totally stoked for Ryan Alshebl ! He's given me all the feels, you know? Like, this dude went through so much and still managed to make it happen . I mean, arriving in Germany as a refugee in 2015, running for mayor 8 years later... that's some serious perseverance, fam . And his message of broad-mindedness and cosmopolitanism is like, totally relatable . Plus, he's gonna bring about positive change to Ostelsheim, which is amazing . I love how the whole town came together to celebrate this win - it's like a real-life fairy tale . And yeah, maybe there were some haters out there, but Ryan didn't let that get him down . He's all about serving his community and making a difference . This is what politics should be all about!

OMG I'M SO HAPPY FOR RYAN ALSHEBL!!! HE TRULY DESERVES THIS VICTORY AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HOW FAR HE'S COME FROM BEING A REFUGEE IN GERMANY TO NOW BEING THE MAYOR OF OSTELESHIM. HIS STORY IS SO INSPIRING, I MEAN WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE SOMEONE OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND SUCCEED LIKE THIS? IT'S ALSO GREAT TO SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY IN OSTELESHIM IS BEHIND HIM AND CELEBRATING HIS VICTORY. LET'S HOPE HE CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE AS MAYOR AND BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE TO HIS COMMUNITY

I mean, can you even believe it? A refugee wins mayoral election in Germany after 8 years! It's like something out of a fairy tale. Ryyan Alshebl's story is so inspiring, he went from being a young Syrian guy trying to escape the war to becoming a German mayor. And it's not just about him, but also about how this win reflects the values of diversity and integration that Germany is all about.

But you know what's crazy? The amount of hate comments Alshebl got during his campaign from far-right fringe voters. Like, come on guys! Can't we all just get along? It's a shame those people can't see the positive impact someone like Alshebl can have in their community.

Anyway, I'm hyped for this young politician and what he's going to bring to Ostelsheim. He's got some big shoes to fill, but I think he's up for the challenge. And who knows, maybe his win will inspire more people to get involved in politics and make a difference.

can u believe that a syrian refugee won the mayoral election in germany 8 yrs after fleeing war-torn syria? ryan alshebl, 29, came to germany as a refugee in 2015 & now he's the new mayor of ostelsheim 55.41% of votes is insane! i'm so proud of him for pursuing his dreams despite everything he's all about promoting digital access, flexible childcare, & climate protection - we need more ppl like him anyway, this is a huge win for germany's diversity & integration efforts let's keep spreading love & positivity

8 years after fleeing war-torn Syria, Ryyan Alshebl has made history by winning the mayoral election in Ostelsheim It's amazing to see how far he's come from being a refugee to becoming a symbol of hope and diversity for his community His story is truly inspiring, and we should all be proud of Germany for embracing someone who has experienced so much hardship Alshebl's victory is not just about him, but also about the values of broad-mindedness and cosmopolitanism that Germany stands for It's a reminder that everyone deserves a second chance, no matter where they come from

omg can u believe this? ryan alshebl just won the mayoral election in germany after being a refugee for 8 yrs! his story is literally insane, he fled syria at 20 and had to choose between joining the army or leaving, lucky for him he took the boat route . now he's mayor and promising to make changes like digital access to public services & climate protection . i love how his community is embracing him & celebrating his win as a "fairy tale" come true . it's moments like these that remind us of the power of diversity & integration, especially in germany which has been criticized for its far-right fringe voters . anyway congrats to ryan on his big win!

I'm soooo down with Ryyan Alshebl's win ... but at the same time, I think it's kinda weird that he was able to just waltz into politics after 8 years of living in Germany . I mean, didn't he, like, escape war and everything? That's not exactly a typical politician background, you know?

And can we talk about how amazing it is that he won despite receiving hateful comments from far-right fringe voters? It shows that there are still so many good people out there who care about diversity and inclusion . But on the other hand... aren't those same fringe voters just kinda, like, really entitled to their opinions? Like, can't they just keep it to themselves?

Anyway, I'm glad Ryyan is excited about his win and all, but I'm also kinda worried that he's gonna get overwhelmed with all the responsibilities of being a mayor . Only time will tell, right?

OMG, this is so inspiring ! I mean, can you believe that someone who's been through so much has made it to be the mayor of a small town? It's like, Ryan Alshebl's story is literally the definition of a fairy tale coming true. And the fact that he won with 55.41% of the votes is crazy! I can imagine how thrilled his mom must have been when he called her after winning .

As a student, I'm always learning about the importance of diversity and inclusion in our society, and this story just reinforces that. Ryan's win shows us that with hard work and determination, anyone can achieve their goals, regardless of where they come from or what challenges they've faced . Plus, his campaign promises about digital access to public services, flexible childcare, and climate protection are totally on point .

I do feel bad for the people who left hateful comments on his campaign trail though... it's like, we should be celebrating diversity and acceptance, not trying to tear others down . Anyway, I'm so glad that Ryan Alshebl is going to be a part of our community now, and I hope he can bring about positive change to Ostelsheim .

I think its pretty cool that this guy won , he's had such a tough life but he still manages to chase his dreams & become the mayor of a German town! 8 years after fleeing war-torn Syria he's now leading the way for others who want to make a change. I mean, not everyone was happy with it tho , especially those far-right fringe voters who are always trying to stir up drama. But Alshebl seems like a really down-to-earth guy who just wants to serve his community & bring about positive change . And its awesome that he's got the support of the locals & even his own mum in Syria!

man, this is so inspiring ! Ryan's story is like, wow, 8 years ago he's fleeing war-torn Syria and now he's the mayor of Ostelsheim? that's some next level stuff . it shows germany really values diversity and integration, which is amazing . i love how he's not afraid to talk about his past and use it to shape his future, that's so brave . and yeah, haters gonna hate but at the end of the day, Ryan's all about making a positive impact for his community . germany should be proud of this young leader

I think its kinda awesome that this guy won the mayoral election after 8 years . Tho, I gotta ask, what if hes just a lucky guy? Like, did he really make all those promises without thinking them thru? And, whats with the people who hated him cuz of his roots? cant they jus be happy for him because hes a human being wining election? I mean, im not saying hes gonna mess everything up or anything, but lets keep an eye on him .

I'm loving this story ! It's truly amazing how far Ryyan Alshebl has come from fleeing war-torn Syria to becoming a German mayor, setting an incredible example for integration and diversity in Germany . His win is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of positive change . I think it's fantastic that he emphasized issues like digital access, flexible childcare, and climate protection during his campaign - it shows he's really committed to making Ostelsheim a better place for all its residents . The fact that locals celebrated his win as a "fairy tale" coming true is just heartwarming . I'm so glad the Integration Minister recognized Alshebl's win and praised Germany's commitment to diversity, too !

omg I'm so happy for ryan alshebl he's such an inspiration! 8 years after fleeing syria and now he's the mayor of ostelsheim Germany i mean what can we learn from his story? that with hard work and determination u can achieve anything even if u have to leave ur country i'm also curious about how germany handles refugees like ryan... is it true they get all the support they need? btw, has anyone tried those german pastries yet?