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Foremost on everyone’s mind in Matonge were last month’s bloody terrorist attacks and what they might portend for this demographically diverse country. However, never far below the surface was the traditional antipathy between blacks and Arabs.

(The Arabs) say they are distressed, that they are unemployed. Too bad.

“We were slaves before and we came here for better lives,” said Christelle Isabu who was out shopping with several children in tow. “The Belgians give us everything. There are hospitals. We have access to all the banks. We must thank them for this, not attack them.

“(The Arabs) say they are distressed, that they are unemployed. Too bad. They say the police harass them. I can assure you, the police harass blacks much more.”

Isabu’s husband is a Muslim from Senegal. She said he felt that he had to change mosques “because there were big, bizarre conversations taking place there that disturbed him. The imam described to him a religion that was different than what his father had told him about back home.”

Maxime Logon said what he liked most about Belgium was that “you can be as you want to be here. But for the Arabs, they must follow one line. Everyone must practise Islam or else.”

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A French-educated lawyer from Cote d’Ivoire, Logon said “the events that have been produced here lately are the result of incorrect political decisions made by Europeans elsewhere. But to kill anyone is wrong. They can’t attack the West because it is too strong militarily, so they attack the unprotected populations of these countries. They want to make Belgium 100 per cent Muslim but they can’t do that. This is a Christian country.”

Atoba thought too much was made of the religious differences between Arab Muslims and black Christians. For him the issue was simple.

“If you don’t like it here, go home,” Atoba said. “If you stay here, integrate. Try to get along. Join society. Respect this society’s laws.”