“Fed up with having the same discussions every year”
Brussels MP for Vooruit.brussels, Ilyas Mouani, has called on the Brussels government to take swift action against rioters. He made this appeal during a plenary session of the Brussels parliament. According to Mouani, tougher punishments are needed quickly for young troublemakers: “I come from a difficult neighbourhood myself, but that is no excuse to destroy our society.”
Riots on New Year’s Eve or after football matches, for example, are unfortunately becoming a familiar sight in Brussels. A small minority of troublemakers are vandalising public property and attacking the emergency services.
“I am not going to apologise or give an account today for rabble-rousers who spoil things for everyone.”, said Ilyas Mouani (Vooruit.brussels) about this during the plenary meeting of the Brussels Parliament. “But colleagues, let's be honest: who has really worked on this in recent years? Who has submitted concrete proposals in this parliament to improve the situation?”
House arrest
Mouani turned to Minister-President Rudi Vervoort and asked him what steps he would take to finally put an end to such scenes:
“Do you agree that, in addition to prevention, a tougher approach is needed? According to Federal Minister for Home Affairs Quintin, mayors can impose house arrest on rioters. Will you then work with them to take the necessary steps to ensure that house arrest is implemented in a concrete and uniform manner across the Region?” said Ilyas Mouani.
Minister-President Vervoort responded, via colleague Minister Elke Van Den Brandt, that imposing a general house arrest requires a concrete, thorough, and individual analysis that demonstrates the necessity of this measure. He believes that, from a legal standpoint, it is not opportune to impose a uniform rule, but he says that the various mayors will fulfil their responsibilities as best they can.
No time to rest on your laurels
Mouani regrets that the Prime Minister is not taking a more active stance regarding the mayors and called on the other parties in parliament to nowto take action.
“I'm sick of having the same discussion every year: it's high time we finally showed determination,” said Mouani. “Young people who vandalise, who endanger firefighters, police officers and Brussels residents in general, must be punished more severely. They should never dare to do it again. But the reality today is different: they do dare, because the punishments are not deterrent enough. I grew up in a difficult neighbourhood myself, but that's no excuse to destroy our society.”