Schaerbeek alderman Michel De Herde has been charged with rape of minors and possession of child pornography. He will no longer participate in the municipal council, until justice has shed light on these new charges.
By the editor
Lhe Schaerbeek alderman Michel De Herde (Défi) was arrested and charged last Friday for rape of a minor under sixteen, a minor over sixteen and possession of child pornography.
Schaerbeek alderman Michel De Herde will no longer attend meetings of the college of mayors and aldermen or the municipal council, until justice has shed light on the new charges revealed this week. The request comes from the “Liste du Bourgmestre” group, and was accepted by Michel De Herde, elected on this list at the 2018 municipal elections.
The Alderman for Culture and Gender Equality and Opportunities in the municipality of Schaerbeek, Sihame Haddioui, spoke on Facebook. She is the first to file a complaint once morest him. She had claimed that Michel De Herde had made sexist remarks towards her, but also of having touched her person, during a municipal council in October 2021. Michel De Herde has always denied these accusations.
This first complaint was what allowed others to file a complaint in turn. Sihame Haddioui talks regarding a long journey to get him removed from office. She says she is relieved because she will be able to go to school once more – she was no longer going, because of the presence of Michel De Herde.
His testimony
“I said at the start of this crazy journey: when a woman speaks, there are 12 behind. A way of showing how violence is part of a continuum. A system. Violent. I had no idea what was to follow. 274 days later, here we are!
You know it now: the accused is FINALLY dismissed from his duties, he will no longer be present at political meetings “as long as the charges once morest him are not lifted”.
We had to wait 274 days and so many other things.
Madness. If you knew. I cried so much. Indignation, discovering the new charges. Of sadness, thinking of the plaintiffs. Of pride, thinking of their courage and ours.
As an individual, I cried with relief even though I’m not losing my temper. Nothing will be able to erase the violence of contempt, the insults and the lynching that I suffered. Nothing will make me forget the cowardice and indifference of the political class. »
You can find his full post below:
