Syrian Refugee Behind Viral Merkel Selfie Chooses Life in Berlin Over Return to Syria

Anas Modamani, now a German citizen, builds a new life in Berlin as debates over repatriating Syrian refugees intensify following Assad's ouster.

Anas Modamani, whose 2015 selfie with Angela Merkel became a symbol of Germany's refugee policy, has no plans to return to Syria despite the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Now a German citizen, Modamani works as a freelance video journalist for Deutsche Welle and lives in Berlin with his Ukrainian fiancée, a mechanical engineer.
He expressed concerns for Syrian refugees in Germany without citizenship, as political calls to repatriate Syrians grow louder ahead of Germany's February elections.
Modamani's family remains in Syria, where ongoing instability and airstrikes continue to pose risks despite the war's official end.
The viral selfie is featured in Angela Merkel's recent memoir, with the former chancellor reflecting on its impact on the refugee debate and her legacy.