The Coordinating Committee of Belgian Jewish Organisations (CCOJB), the country’s EJC affiliate, reacted in a statement after slogans calling for “war against the Jews” were chanted during a demonstration against the “annexation of occupied territory”, organised in Brussels.
The CCOJB expressed shock that a group of demonstrators shouted “Khaybar, khaybar, Ya ya’ud, jaysh Muhammad sawfa ya’ud” (“Khaybar, Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return”) at a demonstration in Brussels. This slogan refers to a battle between the early Muslims and the Jews in the 7th century.
The CCOJB denounced “a symbol of Muslim domination over the Jews”. It also recalls that this slogan already led to condemnation for similar acts which had taken place in Antwerp in 2014.
“These slogans have nothing to do with freedom of speech. They are calls for hatred. It is shameful and worrying” said CCOJB’s President, Yohan Benizri.
“We will drive the attention of our leaders on these facts, and work with all the actors, including in the legal world, to put an end to these unacceptable abuses. We are waiting for a citizen mobilization on this matter. Silence is violence”, he added.
