(Brussels Times) The introduction of religious and ideological “neutrality” in East Flemish provincial schools has been postponed to September 2026. The decision would apply to both students and staff, banning any visible symbols of religious or political beliefs, such as headscarves, skullcaps, […]
(Brussels Times) The province of East Flanders has introduced a ban on wearing religious and political symbols in provincial education, aimed at ensuring philosophical neutrality, a decision approved by the provincial council on Wednesday amid some controversy. Coalition partner Vooruit voted against […]
(Brussels Times) While the various political parties remain very discreet about their negotiations to form the Brussels-Capital Region government, the French-speaking liberals MR and regionalist DéFi vetoed the presence of the Team Fouad Ahidar party in a future government. MR party leader […]
(Brussels Signal) A criminal court in Belgium has convicted a 21-year-old Islamist of plotting to assassinate Bart De Wever, president of the N-VA party and mayor of Antwerp. Identified by the court under the alias of “Elias EA,” the man was found […]
(Brussels Times) The Antwerp Criminal Court is due to issue its verdict on Wednesday in the trial of an alleged terrorist group accused of plotting to murder the city’s mayor, Bart De Wever, who also chairs the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA). The suspects […]
(Belga) Belgium’s federal prosecutor on Wednesday demanded 15 years in prison for Elias E.A., 21, for leading a terrorist group that planned to assassinate the mayor of Antwerp. His five accomplices face prison sentences of between five and 12 years. The suspects, […]
(Brussels Times) In the aftermath of the terror attack in Brussels last month, a prospective law was discussed in parliament for the first time to ensure foreign nationals and asylum seekers required to leave the country actually do so. State Secretary for Asylum […]
(Brussels Times) Improvised prayer rooms in universities have become the subject of discussion after an opinion piece by Nadia Geerts of the Francophone liberal MR party denounced the existence of these so-called “clandestine” areas at ULB University. For several years, a place […]
(Turkish Minute) Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, a dual Turkish-Belgian citizen who in 2009 became the first headscarf-wearing lawmaker in a Belgian parliamentary assembly, was appointed a minister in a new cabinet announced by the Turkish president over the weekend. Özdemir is the only […]
(Brussels Times) Some 20 Brussels cultural institutions have launched a “Ramadan-friendly” label, which allows spectators to break their fast during the show and gives a warning if the performance includes violence, nudity or music. Flemish Minister-President and Cultural Minister Jan Jambon, however, […]
(Brussels Times) The four terror suspects — three men and a woman — who were arrested in the Belgian cities of Antwerp, Brussels and Eupen last week for allegedly planning an attack against Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever will remain in custody, […]
(Brussels Times) Individuals arrested earlier this week as part of a terror investigation reportedly were planning on assassinating the Mayor of Antwerp Bart De Wever and police officers. Eight people were arrested on Monday night in Brussels, Antwerp and Eupen as part of an […]
(Brussels Times) Despite mounting criticism, Islamic non-profit organisation Al-Furqan will be allowed to continue renting a swimming pool in Lommel, Flanders, for an Islamic swim event. Women are not allowed to attend, according to Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg. As the […]
(Brussels Times) An Islamic school in the Flemish city of Genk will appeal an accreditation refusal based on constitutional grounds which prevented it from opening on the first day of school. The Flemish minister of education, Hilde Crevits, said Genk’s Selam College […]
(Brussels Times) Selam College, an Islamic school planning to open its doors in September, has not received provisional recognition. This was decided on Friday by Flemish Education Minister Hilde Crevits on the basis of the education inspection opinion and of a competent […]
(Brussels Times) Dutch-speaking green party Groen want to strike down a general ban on the wearing of headscarves in Flemish schools and only ban them on a case-by-case basis, a party member announced Wednesday. Elisabeth Meuleman, a Groen MP, announced that her […]
(Brussels Times) The Leuven communal council spoke out on Monday evening against the withdrawal of recognition from the Al Ihsaan mosque. This opinion was expressed in the context of the process begun by the Flemish minister-president Liesbeth Homans (N-VA) to withdraw official […]
(Politico) It is the last year that Mohamed Bouezmarni can help sacrifice around 200 sheep in a southern Belgian slaughterhouse for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. From September 1, the French-speaking region of Wallonia will be the second Belgian authority after […]
(Brussels Times) The new Flemish Minister President Liesbeth Homans from N-VA has initiated procedures against the Al Ihsaan mosque in Leuven. The mosque received substantial criticism back in 2017 following the imam’s preaching, justifying physical violence against women, and had to close […]
(Brussels Times) The Flemish government will not accredit any new mosques in the region for the next five years, according to home affairs minister Liesbeth Homans. Homans (photo) had commissioned a study from the university of Leuven, which she now says justifies […]
(Reuters) Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel offered to resign on Tuesday after opponents tabled a no confidence vote in a political crisis triggered by differences over immigration. In office since 2014, Michel lost the support of the biggest party in his coalition, […]
(BBC) Thousands of demonstrators in Brussels have marched against a UN migration pact, adopted in Marrakesh last week. Flemish right-wing parties called the march, which took place near major EU institutions, amid fears the pact could lead to an increase in immigration. […]
(Reuters) More than 150 countries will join a United Nations conference to adopt a global pact to better handle migrant flows, a senior U.N. official said on Sunday, less than the number that initially worked on the plan. In July, all 193 […]
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