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<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>Anamika Datta comes from India and
is one of a small group of people</c>

00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:07.670 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>selected to attend the central
naturalization ceremony in Berlin.</c>

00:00:08.030 --> 00:00:09.820 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>There would not have
been enough room for all of</c>

00:00:09.830 --> 00:00:11.220 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>Berlin's new citizens.</c>

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<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>This is a special day for many.</c>

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<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>I never felt like a
foreigner or an Indian.</c>

00:00:17.310 --> 00:00:18.090 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>I was a Berliner.</c>

00:00:18.110 --> 00:00:19.739 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>Since day one.</c>

00:00:20.680 --> 00:00:25.880 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>At the moment, mostly Syrians
are applying for citizenship, now</c>

00:00:25.880 --> 00:00:28.190 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>that they have fulfilled the
mandatory eight years of German</c>

00:00:28.200 --> 00:00:29.150 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>residency.</c>

00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:32.240 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>For doctor Najat Abed
Alsamad it has been hard going.</c>

00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:34.520 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>She fought to have
her professional certification</c>

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<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>recognized, while at the same
time learning a new language and</c>

00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:38.550 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>securing her livelihood.</c>

00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:40.830 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>But she thinks it
was worth the effort.</c>

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<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>I feel safe here in Germany.</c>

00:00:44.110 --> 00:00:45.620 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>My situation is stable.</c>

00:00:45.630 --> 00:00:48.870 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>I have an apartment, a job, friends
and a pleasant neighborhood.</c>

00:00:51.760 --> 00:00:54.870 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>More and more German residents
are requesting citizenship.</c>

00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:57.310 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>Applications are piling
up at the authorities.</c>

00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:00.450 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>But many would rather not give
up their current nationalities.</c>

00:01:01.880 --> 00:01:07.720 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>After six years, I submitted
the application and then waited</c>

00:01:07.720 --> 00:01:09.440 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>for a response.</c>

00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:13.000 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>Then they decided.</c>

00:01:13.800 --> 00:01:17.030 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>I got a confirmation letter
which said that I had to renounce</c>

00:01:17.030 --> 00:01:18.980 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>my Ghanaian passport.</c>

00:01:19.110 --> 00:01:21.830 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>That was difficult,
but I had no choice.</c>

00:01:24.440 --> 00:01:27.300 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>If the law passes,
the naturalization process is set</c>

00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:28.709 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>to speed up next year.</c>

00:01:28.720 --> 00:01:31.840 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>Many candidates can apply
after just five years of residency</c>

00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:33.220 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>instead of eight.</c>

00:01:33.240 --> 00:01:36.400 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>Anamika Datta also had to
give up her previous citizenship.</c>

00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:39.980 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>Until now, this has
prevented many people from applying.</c>

00:01:40.040 --> 00:01:43.160 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>But with the new naturalization
law, dual citizenship</c>

00:01:43.160 --> 00:01:44.110 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>will be possible.</c>

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<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>Anamika Datta says she would not
have taken dual citizenship anyway.</c>

00:01:54.830 --> 00:01:58.510 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>For me, it's a question of making
a decision and sticking to it.</c>

00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:05.680 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>Even if you can vote, I think it's
better to vote where you live.</c>

00:02:08.437 --> 00:02:11.400 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>That way you can make a difference.</c>

00:02:16.510 --> 00:02:21.220 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>She says, India is in her heart,
but Germany is the country where</c>

00:02:21.230 --> 00:02:22.380 
<c.SoM Wide Latin noL>she wants to live.</c>