Electoralism and political fault for the opposition MR
Georges Verzin, former councilor for ex-MR (opposition) in Schaerbeek, speaking out “low-level voter“. “What the hell are they doing in this mess? Since the Belgian State is the Belgian State, one of the main principles on which this state is founded is the separation of Church and State with the non-interference of politics in religion and Conversely. Here, clearly, we are at the exact opposite of what has been our practice since independence.“
The liberal adds:We can obviously share an iftar, during Ramadan and a moment of sharing by showing our openness to the Muslim community. From there to making political speeches recommending making donations for the benefit of Palestine while the themes that DéFI defends are the obligation to stun during ritual slaughter, this seems to me to make a big difference moreover unacceptable in a religious building. It is a political mistake. And I am convinced that the vast majority of the faithful of the Muslim faith have nothing to do with this interference when he shares moments of the ritual of their worship.“
MR Yvan de Beauffort does not question the iftar, but “nWe are surprised that these politicians did not mention ‘the elephant that was in the room’. Why don’t they take the opportunity to explain their views on positions that may be more difficult? There, these politicians forget their role. NOTWe would like to recall the strongest wish of the MR to find a solution quickly to animal suffering during ritual slaughter, and that prior stunning is a position that we would have explained if we had been invited. We are also very surprised by the call for donations for the benefit of Palestine from an elected official. An approach aimed at the poorest people in Schaerbeek would have seemed appropriate to us.“
Schizophrenia
Cédric Mahieu, of the opposition Committed to the municipal council, does not say more. “When one is from a party that claims to be pure secularism and that such speeches are made followingwards, I am a little surprised that citizens feel manipulated or fooled. This kind of approach worked 25 years ago but not today.“
He adds : “Mr. Clerfayt is a real chameleon, able to adapt his speech according to the place where he is. No one is fooled within the Muslim community. Everyone knows the discourse and the radical positions taken in terms of secularism by the Minister of Employment and Animal Welfare. But here he appears much more deferential when he finds himself in a place of worship. I can understand that some believers feel offended in what may seem like a schizophrenic or even hypocritical posture.“
Not shocking in itself but…
For Caroline Sägesser, doctor in History and specialist in worship and secularism, the approach taken by the agents within the mosque “is not shocking. Secularism postulates freedom of worship. And when it comes to people who have cults in their attributions, it seems to me a fairly legitimate approach to go and visit a place of worship whatever it is. Above all, in tempore non suspecto, that we are not in an election period.“
Conversely, what disturbs her in the video is the absence of the acting mayor. “I would have expected Cécile Jodogne to be present. I would have found it nice of a woman to go to the mosque.“
Another disturbing element, in addition to the lack of context in the video, “it is that one has the impression that the postures of each other show that they come there to make speeches.“
“There is no inconsistency per se“, as to DeFI’s worship program.”But DéFI officials should give explanations to the Muslim community in such circumstances on issues such as the ban on wearing belief symbols in education and the public service and the ban on slaughter without stunning. These are issues that are close to the heart of some people in the Muslim community and which are at the same time emblematic for DéFI. In the video, there are no discussions on these themes.“
Finally, Caroline Sagesser wonders regarding the appeal for donations from a political representative for Palestine. “This is the disturbing element. We do not see very well what a politician is doing by giving advice to the faithful on how they should direct their alms. As a joke, if he had called for donations for a Schaerbeek association to help the poor, we might have understood. But here it appears irrelevant and unwelcome.“
People don’t know the Schaerbeek reality badly
The critics, the prevented minister-mayor Bernard Clerfayt does not understand them. “These are people who know little regarding the Schaerbeek reality“, he replies. The presidency of his party has also referred us to him.
“Me, as mayor, for 20 years, I have been invited every year to iftars in mosques, to Orthodox, secular religious ceremonies… Wherever I am invited, I come because I am the mayor of everyone. I am also sometimes invited to speak. But I do not intervene in the religious. I respect this separation. But I say each time that as mayor, one of my tasks is to apply the law which protects the exercise of religion. Religious freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution. I also recall the context of Schaerbeek, its history, when a mayor (NDLR: Roger Nols) prohibited mosques from an urban planning point of view.“
All my citizens have the same rights in Schaerbeek
No contradiction, either with the discourse of the amaranths, on secularism. “The political secularism that we defend“, continues Bernard Clerfayt, “it is the neutrality of the State with regard to all religions and philosophical options, in complete equality, without them ever intervening in the political field. A separation does not imply ignorance, nor a refusal of recognition. My Muslim, Jewish, Christian and secular citizens all have the same rights in Schaerbeek. And if they invite me, I meet them.“
The call for donations for Palestine from one of its aldermen? “Everyone is free, first of all, to have the options they want on Palestine. I am also for the Palestinians to have a state of their own. As for almsgiving in the mosque, does it belong to the religious or not? I won’t say.“
Michel De Herde, alderman for public education in Schaerbeek, fully assumes the initiative and the presence of politicians. He recalls the context: the wish of the Kouba mosque and the association of Schaerbeek mosques to meet the Federal Minister of Worship Van Quickenborne as part of an iftar.
I’m a big fan of supporting the Palestinians
“So there was a big iftar in the annex premises of the mosque where the minister made his own speech. Hence the presence of the Alderman of Cults, the Mayor in title and myself, being well known in the middle of the mosques for a long time. It is an old practice. We never impose ourselves. But we respond to invitations. It’s not interference. It’s a work meeting, it’s conviviality and politeness. This is to ensure good relations with the cults in general.“
Michel De Herde also assumes the content of his speech, which he wanted to be different from the two previous speakers. “I said two things. First, that we had to bow to the memory of the people who died from Covid. Then, as I am a big proponent of supporting the Palestinians and as I often have for a very, very long time, I told people that there are others who are suffering in Palestine. It is a humanitarian cause that I have defended, publicly, for at least 20 years.“
In conclusion: “We haven’t talked regarding politics. We respond to invitations. We have already been invited in the past by Catholic and Orthodox churches, by synagogues in Schaerbeek… All of this was interrupted by the Covid.“
