On Wednesday, the Belgian Turkish platform announced it would stage a protest in Brussels on Saturday. The protest is due to the criticism concerning the Armenian genocide. The platform wants to send a message to the political world through this protest. They ask it not to join in the unilateral condemnation of the Turkish community. The protest will take place at the Gare du Nord on the 23rd of May from 1pm to 3pm. According to the local police for the Nord zone (Evere, Schaerbeek, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode), the mayor of Schaerbeek has not yet authorised the protest.

“Belgians of Turkish origin have noticed, with a degree of bitterness, that the political world and Belgian public opinion has unfairly condemned them, without even asking their opinion. They have condemned them through several commemorative monuments in Jette, Etterbeek and Malines, and various legislative projects that will lead to the recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide”, the platform said in a press release.

“We are worried that these actions will create unrest and hate between the different populations that live together in harmony and peace in Belgium. How will our grand-children integrate when they are labelled the grand-daughters and grand-sons of murderers? We think that the politicians main task is to treat all communities living on Belgian soil equally, and maintain peace between them”, the platform said.

Jason Bennett (Source: Belga)