German Chancellor brutally bashed online for 'lack of empathy' when faced with crying Palestinian girl

The Palestinian girl faced deportation.

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel was faced with mockery online after a clip of her stroking the back of a crying Palestinian girl who was probably getting deported. Merkel was accused of reducing the situation into an explanation of the policy and lacking empathy. There was one who defended the German chancellor's action, saying he respected her gestures at the event.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The video clip of Merkel and the girl's, a Palestinian refugee about 10-years-old, talk went viral along with the hashtag #merkelstreichelt, which in English is #merkelstrokes. According to some people online, the chancellor handled the situation poorly because of the immigration policy in Germany.

Reem, the girl who's family is from Lebanon but has lived in Germany for four years, told Merkel, during the discussion forum in the northern city of Rostock, that she wanted to study in the country. It was noticeable that the girl spoke good German; she explained that she desired to share what her peers are experiencing in life but her plans were uncertain because of the threat of deportation.

"I understand. However... sometimes politics is hard. When you stand in front of me and you are a very nice person, but you know in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon there are thousands and thousands (of people) and if we say you can all come and you can all come from Africa and you can all come. We can't manage that," responded Merkel which made Reem cry. The surprised chancellor walked up to her and said that the girl did a good job.

When the discussion moderator explained to Merkel that Reem is crying over the situation and not whether she had presented herself well, Merkel responded that she knew, but still wanted to stroke her back.

However, others received Merkel's actions as cold, leading to the online bashing.

Tweets like: "#merkelstrokes with the cold hand of an ice queen" by Martina Wilczyniski surfaced. However, forum moderator, Felix Seibert-Daiker stated that the chancellor reacted in a humane manner.

"Of course, we all would have liked Merkel to take Reem in her arms and say 'you can stay' but that is not the situation. Many colleagues would have talked around it."

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