How a selfie with Angela Merkel changed the life of a refugee (pic)

Anas Montamani, a refugee from Syria, became famous in 2015, when he took a selfie with then Chancellor Angela Merkel, at the height of the refugee crisis. But where is he today? And what has changed in his life since then?

Annas Montamani now lives in the eastern suburbs of Berlin and rents his own apartment. Six years ago, when he arrived in Germany, he was living in a refugee dormitory. He has achieved a lot since then. “I study Economics and Communication. I am in the fifth semester. I work at the same time and live with my girlfriend. “I hope to get German citizenship later,” he says characteristically.

The selfie he took by chance with Angela Merkel suddenly made him famous. His image has been featured in all German media – and beyond. A German family immediately contacted him, offering him hospitality.

From targeting to success

He recalls: “The selfie with the chancellor means a lot to me. It is much more than a photograph. It’s a symbol of Mrs Merkel’s humanity. He helped me, he saved my life. I will be grateful to her for the rest of my life. The selfie was the proof that Angela Merkel has a big heart, she welcomed us in the country and gave us the opportunity to stay and integrate here “.

But things have not always been rosy for Montamani since. Following the Islamist terrorist attacks in Brussels and Berlin, he was targeted as a suspect on many social media sites. Then he feared for his life and stopped leaving the house. He even turned against Facebook for spreading false news. But without success.

Nevertheless, he was not intimidated and continued to try to make a living in Germany. Angela Merkel remains his personal heroine. “I will miss him very much. If I met her again, I would really like to thank her for everything she did for me. Thanks to her, I am doing much better in my life today. I want to show her my respect because she saved my life. And maybe I’ll ask her again to take a selfie again. “

German wave

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