Baden-Wuerttemberg
After escape: Syrian Ryyan Alshebl sworn in as mayor
Ryyan Alshebl (Greens) came to Germany as a refugee from Syria – only he will be mayor of Ostelsheim. photo
© Christoph Schmidt/dpa
It’s official since tonight: Ostelsheim has a new mayor – and thus probably the first holder of this office nationwide, who came to Germany as a refugee in 2015.
His story went around the world: Ryyan Alshebl (29) was officially appointed mayor in a celebratory municipal council meeting on Friday evening Ostelsheim (Calw district) was sworn in. Eight years ago he fled the war in Syria – in April the citizens of the Swabian community of 2,500 residents elected him the new mayor with an absolute majority of 55.41 percent of the votes.
The 29-year-old was very much looking forward to his swearing-in and commitment. This took place in the local festival hall. That evening, for the first time, a refugee from Syria spoke the official obligation formula for a mayoral office in Baden-Württemberg.
According to the municipal council of Baden-Württemberg, there have not yet been any other applicants with Syrian roots for a mayoral office in south-west Germany. Nationwide, the “Network of Young Mayors” is not aware of any other mayor who came to Germany as a refugee in 2015.