[https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/03/28/bart-de-wever-over-geschrapte-iftar-in-de-roma-de-politie-vond/](https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/03/28/bart-de-wever-over-geschrapte-iftar-in-de-roma-de-politie-vond/)

De Wever extensively denounced the attitude of the organizers Merhaba and De Roma who have canceled the iftar. According to De Wever, they do not want to tell the police what threats they received, in what way and from which angle. “That’s a bit harsh. Because at the same time you see that a social debate is emerging on the basis of unconfirmed information, in which the Muslim community in particular is put in a certain light,” regrets De Wever.

In a reaction, the management of De Roma refutes De Wever’s statements. “We have consulted the police several times. Above all, we wanted to create a safe place for the Queer Iftar. But if certain individuals themselves indicate that the atmosphere becomes so grim that they do not need it, then we will not necessarily have an iftar That goes beyond the purpose of that safe place,” says Danielle Dierckx of De Roma.

She emphatically denies that there would be no threats. “These are serious personal threats, but it is up to those individuals to file a complaint.” Something that hasn’t happened yet. “I have a problem with the fact that the mayor thinks that we canceled that iftar just like that. That shows little empathy,” Dierckx concludes.

11 comments

  1. De Wever wouldn’t lie about there not being interaction with the police (I presume), that would mean the organizers are lying about their non-existant interactions with the police. But why?

  4. So… There are threats that are serious enough to cancel a public event, but not serious enough to get the police involved?

    Sometimes I think I’m autistic or something. I really don’t understand some people’s choices and actions…

  5. Have you ever called the cops to report threats?

    Yeah… they come and write everything down and nothing happens. If you’re lucky they will propose burenbemiddeling. If you’re unlucky they will force you into burenbemiddeling or you will face a GAS fine. I speak from experience.

  7. > “These are serious personal threats, but it is up to those individuals to file a complaint.

    True, and BDW knows this. To then claim De Roma isn’t cooperating… it’s not up De Roma to report this, you can’t report in name of other people.

    It feels like BDW is trying to imply these complaints are fake. By an organization wanting to do something for the LGBTQ+ community and the muslim community.

    Seems like he thinks he can gain something from framing it this way.

  8. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

    Just because the police does not find credible threats, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. And it is deeply problematic for a mayor to start sharing these elements of an ongoing investigation.

    At the same time, the organisers have the duty to report all credible threats to the police. This is not a civil matter but a criminal one. Imagine if something happened after they chose not to report it…

    But the debate is being hijacked for political gain.

  9. Ben even niet mee geweest met heel het verhaal. Wat was eigenlijk de bedoeling van de “queer iftar”? Is deze georganiseerd door de LGBTQ+ community? Of is dit georganiseerd voor de LGBTQ+ Community?

    Want hier in België worden er talloze iftars georganiseerd die open is voor iedereen. Dus niet enkel Queers. En net andersom zijn er tegenwoordig veel LGBTQ+ evenementen die plaatsvinden, ook telkens open voor iedereen en niet enkel moslims.

    Maar zover ik weet gaat LGBTQ+ en Islam niet goed samen, zeker omdat er moslims zijn waar ik zeker van ben die de LGBTQ+ community haten (Weet niet of het andersom ook geldt). Waarom wordt dan in godsnaam zoiets georganiseerd?

    Tenzij er natuurlijk een nieuwe “neo moslim” community is waar ik niet op de hoogte van ben dat LGBTQ+ aanmoedigt?

Leave a Reply