Syrian Refugee Runs for German Parliament

Tareq Alaows, candidate for German parliament who currently works as a legal counselor for migrants seeking asylum status in the country after fleeing to Germany himself from his home country of Syria, poses in front of the Reichstag, Germany’s parliament building. Source.

Tareq Alaows fled to Germany in 2015 to avoid persecution in his home country of Syria. Now he’s running for Parliament. Alaows, who studied law while in Syria, was widely outspoken against Syrian President Bashar al’Assad’s government. He participated in peaceful protests and volunteered with humanitarian aid groups until he found himself facing conscription and increased danger from the war raging in Syria. It was at this point that Alaows decided to flee across the Aegean Sea in a rubber dinghy to Germany, a place where he could find sanctuary, a job, and a home. After enduring the conditions migrants in Germany face first-hand he became a legal counselor for asylum-seekers. 

Alaows explains how, after arriving in Germany, he was stuffed into a gym with 60 other people, prohibited from working, and not given German language lessons. While he organized protests against these shocking conditions, he ultimately realized that the main issue was that migrants like him did not have a voice representing or advocating for them in the German Parliament. This is what he aims to change in his political run. Alaows is running as a part of the Green Party, which he joined a year ago. The Green Party focuses on human rights and social justice issues along with environmental concerns and Alaows has found a comfortable position amidst their ranks. 

While Alaows feels strongly about the rights of migrants in Germany, others are less than enthused. German Chancellor Angela Merkel received large amounts of backlash over her decision to welcome migrants into Germany in 2015. While she received varying responses from her political opponents, the strongest response came from the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) which capitalized on public outrage over her decision. The once welcoming culture, also known as Willkommenskultur, was replaced with public debates over what was being considered a growing “refugee crisis.” This worry and fear was stoked by the media and political groups which, some research shows, may have overemphasized individual citizens concerns. 

While not much is known yet about the public’s response to Alaows political run, he seems to have found a good support system within his campaign staff and political party. AP News reported Beate Stock-Schroer, a spokeswoman for the Green party in Alaow’s district as saying that “Tareq is a candidate who advocates social justice and equality for all human beings as well as inclusive politics.” With about 26% of Germany’s population being of migrant origin with little representation in government, it appears Tareq Alaows has found a group that could greatly benefit from his efforts and his campaign and election come September will be one to watch.