Belgium Muslim Body at Stake
Belgian Muslim leaders are mulling ways to save their main representative body, which looked largely at stake after the resignation of half of its members in the aftermath of financial irregularities.
"The Muslim Executive Council of Belgium's current status is no longer acceptable," Karim Chemlal, leader of the Muslim League of Belgium, told IslamOnline.net Wednesday, March 5.
"We are trying to find a way out of the current limbo."
Established in 1998 as the official representative body of the Muslim minority, the council has been plagued by a corruption scandal after investigations found misspending by its members.
The council's chairman Jo Vandeurzen resigned on Wednesday, February 27, after being quizzed by authorities over the cash scandal.
His resignation came after more than half of the 17-member board of the council resigned one after another.
The move followed the disbanding of the council's auditing body by a court order on February 22.
Investigations found serious financial irregularities including overcharges and fake bills by the council, which receives an annual government aid of 1.18 million euros.
"It seems as if the representative Council reached the point of no return," said Abdelghani Benmoussa, spokesman for the Association of Muslim Vigilance.
"The council has lost its credibility and it is time to find an alternative as it hit a cul de sac."
Belgian Muslims are estimated at 450,000 — out of a 10-million population.
Most of Belgian Muslims are of Moroccan and Turkish origins.
Belgium was the first European country in 1974 to recognize Islam among other state religions in the country.
Proposals
Belgian Muslim leaders have come up with a set of proposals to revive the council and shine up its blemished image.
"We are left with two options: either to start from scratch and establish a new council or maintain the existing one and inject new blood into it," said Chemlal.
In meeting the second option, the League has suggested restructuring the council in cooperation with all Muslim organizations and mosques in Belgium, paving for elections to pick new board members.
The Association of Muslim Vigilance, on its part, called for forming an interim body to run the affairs of the Muslim minority for a transitional period before holding new elections.
It further said the new council should be self-financed.
"It is time we depended on ourselves and donations from fellow Muslims, so that we do not depend on state allocations anymore," said Benmoussa.
"Financial independence is the key to independent decisions."
Both Benmoussa and Chemlal agree that the new council should represent all Belgian Muslims.
"The existing council is divided among the Turks and Moroccans, who make up the majority of the Muslim minority," said Benmoussa.
"We want to curb the influence of Turkey and Morocco as it is no secret that their consulates play a key role in the council's decision making process," added Chemlal.
IOL
"We are trying to find a way out of the current limbo."
Established in 1998 as the official representative body of the Muslim minority, the council has been plagued by a corruption scandal after investigations found misspending by its members.
The council's chairman Jo Vandeurzen resigned on Wednesday, February 27, after being quizzed by authorities over the cash scandal.
His resignation came after more than half of the 17-member board of the council resigned one after another.
The move followed the disbanding of the council's auditing body by a court order on February 22.
Investigations found serious financial irregularities including overcharges and fake bills by the council, which receives an annual government aid of 1.18 million euros.
"It seems as if the representative Council reached the point of no return," said Abdelghani Benmoussa, spokesman for the Association of Muslim Vigilance.
"The council has lost its credibility and it is time to find an alternative as it hit a cul de sac."
Belgian Muslims are estimated at 450,000 — out of a 10-million population.
Most of Belgian Muslims are of Moroccan and Turkish origins.
Belgium was the first European country in 1974 to recognize Islam among other state religions in the country.
Proposals
Belgian Muslim leaders have come up with a set of proposals to revive the council and shine up its blemished image.
"We are left with two options: either to start from scratch and establish a new council or maintain the existing one and inject new blood into it," said Chemlal.
In meeting the second option, the League has suggested restructuring the council in cooperation with all Muslim organizations and mosques in Belgium, paving for elections to pick new board members.
The Association of Muslim Vigilance, on its part, called for forming an interim body to run the affairs of the Muslim minority for a transitional period before holding new elections.
It further said the new council should be self-financed.
"It is time we depended on ourselves and donations from fellow Muslims, so that we do not depend on state allocations anymore," said Benmoussa.
"Financial independence is the key to independent decisions."
Both Benmoussa and Chemlal agree that the new council should represent all Belgian Muslims.
"The existing council is divided among the Turks and Moroccans, who make up the majority of the Muslim minority," said Benmoussa.
"We want to curb the influence of Turkey and Morocco as it is no secret that their consulates play a key role in the council's decision making process," added Chemlal.
IOL
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