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| Palestinian girl defends Angela Merkel after crying during deportation speech | Palestinian girl defends Angela Merkel after crying during deportation speech |
| (6 months later) | |
| The young Palestinian refugee filmed crying after Angela Merkel told her she could not stop her being deported has defended the German Chancellor. | The young Palestinian refugee filmed crying after Angela Merkel told her she could not stop her being deported has defended the German Chancellor. |
| A clip of their encounter has been watched by millions of people, sparking concern over Germany’s asylum policy and seeing Ms Merkel condemned as cold-hearted and ridiculed over her attempts at comforting the girl. | A clip of their encounter has been watched by millions of people, sparking concern over Germany’s asylum policy and seeing Ms Merkel condemned as cold-hearted and ridiculed over her attempts at comforting the girl. |
| But 14-year-old Reem Sahwil was not angry with her response. | But 14-year-old Reem Sahwil was not angry with her response. |
| “She listened to me and then gave her opinion. I'm fine with that,” she said in an interview with German broadcaster ARD today. | “She listened to me and then gave her opinion. I'm fine with that,” she said in an interview with German broadcaster ARD today. |
| Reem confronted the Chancellor at a question-and-answer session on Wednesday, saying that she and her family faced being deported because they had only been granted temporary right of asylum. | Reem confronted the Chancellor at a question-and-answer session on Wednesday, saying that she and her family faced being deported because they had only been granted temporary right of asylum. |
| “I don't know what my future will be,” Reem said. | “I don't know what my future will be,” Reem said. |
| “I really want to study in Germany - it is unfair to watch while other people can enjoy life and you can’t enjoy it with them.” | “I really want to study in Germany - it is unfair to watch while other people can enjoy life and you can’t enjoy it with them.” |
| Ms Merkel, who appeared momentarily thrown, told Reem that “sometimes politics is hard” and that exceptions could not be made to government policy. | Ms Merkel, who appeared momentarily thrown, told Reem that “sometimes politics is hard” and that exceptions could not be made to government policy. |
| “You’re a very nice person,” the Chancellor added, before saying that Germany could not take in all the asylum seekers from Lebanon, where Reem’s family lived in a refugee camp until four years ago. | “You’re a very nice person,” the Chancellor added, before saying that Germany could not take in all the asylum seekers from Lebanon, where Reem’s family lived in a refugee camp until four years ago. |
| The teenager started crying as Ms Merkel’s defence continued, causing the leader to break off and attempt to soothe the girl by stroking her shoulder. | |
| Reem, who attends a school for disabled pupils in Rostock and needs assistance walking, spoke about her experience on ARD’s Morgenmagazin programme. | Reem, who attends a school for disabled pupils in Rostock and needs assistance walking, spoke about her experience on ARD’s Morgenmagazin programme. |
| “I want to carry on studying after school so I can do something better with my future,” she said. | “I want to carry on studying after school so I can do something better with my future,” she said. |
| Reem said she has had “too much experience of war” and wants to stay in Germany, where she is safe and happy, without worrying about having to leave. | Reem said she has had “too much experience of war” and wants to stay in Germany, where she is safe and happy, without worrying about having to leave. |
| The Local reported that Reem’s chances of remaining in Germany are, in fact, very high thanks to a law brought in by Ms Merkel's government in June. | The Local reported that Reem’s chances of remaining in Germany are, in fact, very high thanks to a law brought in by Ms Merkel's government in June. |
| It states that minors who have been in Germany for a period of four years have a right to remain, although that does not automatically extend to their loved ones. | It states that minors who have been in Germany for a period of four years have a right to remain, although that does not automatically extend to their loved ones. |