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Calls
For Calm As Islamic Leader Charged in Belgium
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| Verhofstadt might ban the European Arab League (EAL), a Belgian local Islamic group
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ANTWERP,
Belgium, November 29 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Up to 3,000
people attended the funeral Friday, November 29, of an immigrant whose
killing sparked unrest in the Belgian city of Antwerp, as a key
Islamic leader was allegedly charged over the clashes.
The
family of the slain north African immigrant, meanwhile, appealed for
calm, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
"Let
us live together. Let us get to know each other," said Satif, the
brother of the victim in the northern city with a large immigrant
population and a strong far-right presence.
This
week's unrest, in which 160 people were arrested, was triggered on
Tuesday, November 26, after Mohamed Achrak, a 27-year-old Moroccan
teacher of Islamic religion, was killed by 66-year-old Belgian
Constant Van Linden.
Van
Linden has not been thoroughly questioned by police due to his alleged
mental state.
Prosecutors
have not confirmed a racial motive for the attack.
Immediately
after Achrak was murdered, youths took to the streets protesting
anti-Muslim discrimination by police.
The
unrest resumed Wednesday, November 27, when some 200-250 young
protestors clashed with police for several hours.
Authorities
cracked down on the European Arab League (EAL), a local Islamic group
allegedly accused of inciting the clashes.
Late
on Thursday, November 28, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said
he was considering banning the EAL.
"If
necessary we will ban (the EAL) but we will do it within the framework
of the law and in line with the inquiry which prosecutors are
currently pursuing," he told parliament.
Then
on Friday, Abu Jahjah, head of the European Arab League (EAL), was
indicted on charges of "premeditated unrest," blocking
traffic, damaging vehicles as well as hitting police.
No
incidents were reported until later Friday afternoon at Achrak's
funeral.
At
the ceremony his coffin was carried by eight white-clad bearers and
one of his brothers into a sports hall turned into a makeshift prayer
hall.
The
victim's family called for calm as the funeral procession got
underway.
"We
are all as one, whether black or white, Belgian or Moroccan, Muslim or
non-Muslim," said his brother.
Mourners
included Antwerp's Socialist mayor Leona Detiege, who has accused the
EAL of inciting the clashes.
EAL
said on Thursday it was suing the mayor for defamation over the
allegations.
Antwerp,
Belgium's second city, is a stronghold of the far-right Vlaams Blok
party, which won more than a third of the votes in municipal elections
in October 2000.
The
city is home to a large immigrant population, mainly from Morocco and
Turkey.
After
the funeral Achrak's body will be returned to his native Morocco.
The
EAL caused a storm earlier this month when it began organizing patrols
to guard against anti-Muslim discrimination by police, amid heightened
security due to terrorist threats.
The
EAL has some 100 members and has no links with the Arab League,
according to the Belgian press.
Abu
Jahjah has called for Arabic to be recognized as a fourth official
language in Belgium, after French, Dutch and German.
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