A young woman from Iraq, Minister of Immigration in Germany, What is the story of the rise of Reem Al-Abli?
Amidst great celebration, the Iraqi immigrant Reem Al-Abli attracted the attention of the world, after winning the position of Minister of State for Migration Affairs in Germany. In an event that gives hope to many migrants around the world who have had to leave their countries and face difficult conditions in the countries of asylum and immigration.
At a time when immigrants and refugees of different nationalities and ethnicities are experiencing harsh conditions and difficult challenges in the countries they seek refuge in, and in light of the restrictive policies and rhetoric of incitement and racism, the story of the Iraqi immigrant Reem Al-Abli seems to be a point of light in this blackness, and the success that gave many immigrants hope for a life better.
The assignment of Reem Al-Abli as Minister of State for Migration Affairs in the new German government drew the attention of many to the inspiring success story of the Iraqi young woman. Thousands of Iraqis celebrated this success on social media platforms. While many wondered if her coronation in this position would affect in the future immigration policies in Germany.
From resorting to the chair of responsibility
Like the rest of the Iraqi families who left the country for foreign countries in the hope of winning a better life and better living conditions than their countries, Reem Al-Abli's family, an Iraqi political family, sought refuge in Russia, where Reem was born in 1990.
After that, the Iraqi young woman grew up in Germany, where she received political science at the Free University of Berlin, and succeeded in learning German alongside Arabic and Assyrian. Thus, she was able to launch a successful political career despite her young age.
Since 2015 she has worked as the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Government Commissioner for Integration, for her interest in integration issues. Meanwhile, she was an active member of the Social Democratic Party.
She then ran in the German parliamentary elections last September for the Social Democratic Party, in the district of Schwerin-Luddwigslust-Barkheim in northern Germany.
She won 44,107 votes in her constituency, or nearly 29.4% of the vote, outperforming her Christian Democratic rival Dietrich Münstadt, who had won 20.7%.
Commenting on her results, Reem said in a media statement at the time: "I myself am impressed by getting a direct seat in the German Parliament, in a region where there are not many foreigners or people with immigrant backgrounds."
Given that governments of some foreign and European countries usually appoint candidates of immigrant origins to the position of the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, Reem El-Abli, in addition to her academic excellence and political activity at a young age, succeeded in obtaining this position in the new government formation in Germany.
As an Iraqi immigrant, many today are looking forward to the role that Reem Al-Abli will play and the influence she can have on immigration policies in Germany, especially in light of the recent campaigns by the far-right camp in Germany against immigrants and media incitement as well.
In this context, Reem said: "My Iraqi roots are always with me, I know that politics can do a lot, and because my parents came from a country that suffered from wars, I understand that politics means taking responsibility."
Iraqi celebration and tribute
In light of the difficult conditions faced by immigrants around the world, including Iraqis, the news of the coronation of Reem Al-Abli as Minister of Integration and Immigration in the government of the new German Chancellor Olaf Schulz, as the first minister of Iraqi origin, raised the joy of Iraqis.
Many people celebrated it on social media. Commenting on the news, the former Iraqi ambassador to Sweden, Ahmed Al-Kamali, tweeted, via his Twitter account, saying, “Production and creativity need a safe and stable environment. I met personalities and officials of multiple nationalities, and they praise the mentality and culture of Iraqis in general. It is not strange for a country to assume a responsibility, what is important is that it performs the right of the position with honesty and honor.”
Meanwhile, activists wondered what Reem's condition would have been if she had stayed in Iraq, facing what the rest of her youth are facing today in terms of lack of opportunities, wars, repression, and insecurity and stability.
While the former Iraqi Minister of Construction and Housing, Bankin Rekani, said in a tweet on his Twitter account: "God bless you, if we have, what do you expect the reactions?"
