Flanders: in municipal elections, the far-right makes its biggest breakthrough since the Second World War
This trend was already apparent in the parliamentary elections last June, and was confirmed this weekend in the municipal elections, where the voting rate for the far right has not been so high since the Second World War. The far-right separatist party Vlaams Belang won the municipality of Ninove, a medium-sized town (30 km from […]
Evere: driving instructor refuses to let Muslim women wear headscarves
According to the school’s secretary, this is a condition that the instructor set when he joined this driving school in Evere (Brussels Capital Region). The latter adds that “even if it’s not normal, the instructor brings in €36,000 a month”, implicitly approving these Islamophobic practices to earn more money. These statements were recorded by a […]
Covering swimsuits: Flanders’ human rights institute recommends allowing them in swimming pools
This is the recommendation made by the Litigation Chamber of the Flemish Institute for Human Rights, following a complaint lodged in March by a woman concerning the ban on covering bathing suits for women, whereas this is permitted for children. The latter was prevented from entering the provincial recreation area of Puyenbroeck (northern Belgium) because […]
Vlaams Belang: “There are other countries where you can be yourself”. Guy D’haeseleer’s openly racist remarks to a young Muslim woman
On the Flemish television program “Premier choix” (“Eerste keus“), in which young people called to the polls for the very first time can put their questions to candidates in the municipal elections, a member of the far-right Flemish party Vlaams Belang made openly racist and Islamophobic remarks. Afnan, a young woman wearing a headscarf, explained […]
Apology for terrorism: charges brought against Georges-Louis Bouchez, President of the MR, after his comments on the Zionist attack in Lebanon
Georges-Louis Bouchez, Belgian Member of Parliament and President of the “Mouvement Réformateur” political party (MR, liberal-conservative party), has been under fire for several days following his shocking comments in an interview: “I think this attack is rather a stroke of genius”, said Georges-Louis Bouchez, referring to Israel’s attack on Hezbollah members’ beepers. The MR Chairman […]
“Naughty little Mohammedans”: the racist and Islamophobic remarks of a new Vlaams Belang MP
Britt Huybrechts, 24, a Vlaams Belang member of the House of Representatives in the Belgian Federal Parliament, is facing criticism for statements she made in April on Vlaams Belang TV, the far-right party’s YouTube channel. In a debate on immigration, broadcast on the party’s YouTube channel, the MP, then a candidate, said: “In vacation villages, […]
Islamophobic remarks at the commune of Schaerbeek
A complaint has been lodged against local councillor Bernard Guillaume for Islamophobic remarks made in Schaerbeek during a meeting of the advisory council on animal welfare. The local councillor from the Mouvement Réformateur described Islam as an ” extremist religion ” and also stated: ” The Muslims want to make their law here, but this […]
Study shows that Muslims are the least tolerated minority in Belgium
The Jonathas Institute, a center for study and action against anti-Semitism, has published the results of the first survey ever carried out in Belgium on the perception of minorities, particularly Jewish communities. Some Belgian media have focused on singling out anti-Semitism emanating specifically from Muslims, but the study reveals that anti-Semitic prejudice is present in […]
At the European Parliament, far-right parties emerge strengthened but divided
Austria and France are the two countries where these political formations came out on top. The day after the European elections, which renew the European Parliament for the next five years, the expected surge of far-right parties has been confirmed. As Europe celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings against Nazi occupation, the fascist […]
Sarah Chaari’s victory and the problem of “exceptional” courses
At just 17 years of age, Sarah Chaari, a veil-wearing Belgo-Moroccan from Charleroi, was crowned Taekwondo World Champion last week in Mexico. The young athlete gave Belgium its second gold medal of a world championship, and the first in the women’s category. What’s more, she is the only athlete in the world to have won […]
