German MP invites Eritrean asylum seekers to live in his house – The Telegraph
Martin Patzelt, a member of Angela Merkel’s CDU party, advocates more humane refugee policies amid increasing tensions in Germany over immigration. A German MP from Angela Merkel’s party has put his money where his mouth is
Martin Patzelt, a member of Angela Merkel’s CDU party, advocates more humane refugee policies amid increasing tensions in Germany over immigration.
A German MP from Angela Merkel’s party has put his money where his mouth is by welcoming two asylum seekers into his home – and urged fellow citizens to do the same.
Martin Patzelt, a member of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and advocate of more humane refugee policies, now shares his house with two men who have fled from Eritrea.
But the MP’s calls for Germans to take in refugees has seen him receive death threats amid increasing tensions in Germany over immigration.
The two new housemates, Haben, 19, and Awet, 24, live in the attic level of the home Mr Patzelt shares with his wife Katharina in the village of Briesen, Brandenburg.
Mr Patzelt and his wife started chatting with the two men at the local church and invited them to dinner. The two refugees later asked whether they could move in with them.
“We said yes,” Mr Patzelt told German newspaper Die Welt. “We want to give them a help start here, to help them learn German and to release them some day back into society, like our own children.”
It follows an open letter Mr Patzelt wrote to Green Party politician Hans-Christian Ströbele last year, after the Green MP had demanded more money for the public purse in order to achieve more humane refugee policies.
Mr Patzelt called on his fellow citizens to actively engage with the immigration crisis instead by taking in refugees, and challenged Mr Ströbele to do the same.
He wrote: “I propose that we both, you and I, personally take in one or two refugees to live with us, until they are offered a humane, individual accommodation instead of being quartered in mass accommodation.”
Mr Patzelt, who was mayor of Frankfurt on the Oder river for eight years before being elected as an MP for the CDU two years ago, didn’t receive an answer from Ströbele, but he did receive anonymous death threats from citizens.
“Many found it an imposition even to think of taking in a refugee,” said Mr Patzelt, adding that Germany ultimately has to find a solution.
Hostility over immigration has been rising in Germany, which receives the most asylum applications in Europe. The German government announced in May that it is expecting asylum applications to reach 400,000 in 2015, nearly double the 202,000 applications it received in 2014.
Haben and Awet, who have lived for a year and a half in Germany, both fled their countries and managed to reach Libya before sailing in a wooden boat to Europe.
Eritrea’s dictator Isaias Afewerki rules over a highly repressive regime. The country of six million people in the Horn of Africa provides about a quarter of all asylum applications in the European Union.
Mr Patzelt said that the pair “don’t represent a substantial burden for us”.
The family receives €100 (£71) per refugee each month from authorities for expenses, and the two men also receive money from the state for clothes and food.
It is cheaper for the state to house the refugees with the family than is would be to place them in a refugee home, which would cost around €2,000 a month.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees is currently deciding on their residency status following their hearing.
k.tewolde July 14, 2015
God bless him. Any established diaspora eritrean volunteers like him? anyone?
Eritrean Citizen July 15, 2015
The ages of the refugees show they were born as of Independence and their names describe the victory and pride of the Eritrean people. However, ironically, because of the devil dictator Isaias Afewerki, Haben and Awet have been exiled and are at the mercy of goodwill/sympathy/empathy. I sometimes wonder if Isaias Afewerki hears these kinds of news and feels bad.
asmerom July 15, 2015
He would feel bad if he has roots or any kind of connection with the people of Eritrea.EPLF entrusted him to oversee a nation that has no roots in.
Genet-orginal July 17, 2015
asmerom
I agree!
smerr495 July 15, 2015
Herr Martin Patzelt,
ich bedanke mich von mein Herz fuer ihre Mencghlichkeitt das Sie die zwei geholfen haben.
Selamawi July 15, 2015
Wow!Thank you Mr Martin Patzelt for showing such positive attitude and love towards these refugee Eritreans (and others.) They were mistreated, exploited, oppressed and all their hopes taken away from them by the pfdj regime of Isaias Afwerki, but they got a warm and dignified welcome by another politician in Germany! Thank Goodness humanity is not filled with the likes of the Eritrean Dictator… but there are good people around.
Thank you Mr Martin Patzelt, German MP. May God bless your house in abundance with love and prosperity and eternal glory. You are an example to us all!
Thank you Germany for producing people like this MP.
Compatriots Haben and Awet: enjoy your freedom, the care you are receiving and be grateful to the society you live in. Hope Germany will give you the permission to live there. Also hope you will achieve your personal goals and be good citizens. ትሑታትን ለባማትን ክትኮኑን ኣብ ጽቡቕ ደረጃ በጺሕኩም፥ ሓላፍነት ዝስምዖም ዜጋትት ክኮኑን እምነየልኩም። ኣቦታትኩም ኣሳዲዶምኹም፡ ኣቦታት ካልኦት ግን ኣብ ቤቶም ተቐቢሎምኹም!
ሕውነታዊ ሰላምታ
Michael Tesfamariam July 15, 2015
May God Bless him!
Ti July 15, 2015
Lieber Herr Patzelt,
sie sind große, mutige und barmherzige Vorbild. God segene und beschütze sie.
alganesh Asgedom July 15, 2015
I thank Mr Martin Patzelt and wife for their generosity. Wow,such a show of compassion which came from highly placed individuals brought me big hope with in me.
On its own, it is a gift which has a great merit and implication. The action is fantastic and never heard of. It is a wake up call for authorities concerned to address issues related to immigration and asylum as well. Today, xenophobia and fear of it must not be allowed to blind us in our judgement.
I hope Mr and Mrs Patzelt and family has a lasting positive relationship with Haben and Awet. Who knows this might open doors for better understanding between host nation – (in Germany) and asylum seekers. Let us give the asylum process a human face!
Wishing family a pleasant summer!
Ogbai Ghebremedhin July 15, 2015
Mr. and Mrs. Patzelt are the best examples of German humaness, the light of hope in the dark life of Eritrean immigrants. I hope those who are reacting negatively to the humaness of Mr and Mrs Patzelt will dig deep into their soul and find their true nature of kindness. One day, the darkness that has engulfed Eritrea will fade and be replaced by the bright light of freedom and the tranquility of justice and peace. And God willing, we, the Eritrean people will be able to be worthy hosts to Mr and Mrs Patzelt and their likes on behalf of Haben and Awet and brothers and sisters of the same fate.
Thank you Mr and Mrs Patzel; may the spark of hope you have ignited with your kindess spread through the kind hearts of the German people.
Aman July 16, 2015
I guarantee you we will call one of the new streets in Asmara when we build in the same area PFDj is demolishing. God bless you and your wife in abundance, this is an act of true christian.
Aman July 16, 2015
Sorry forgot to mention call a street in your name is Asmara after PFDJ is gone and dusted.