“It’s unacceptable that in a liberal democracy we come to such acts. Obviously, now I’m afraid for my family and my little brothers. We don’t know what could happen in an hour,” deplores Salih Demirhan, still a student and 8th on the joint list with the MR in Schaerbeek but not elected. He is then surrounded by a few relatives and emotion can be seen on some faces.
According to him, these acts are the culmination of threats that have been hovering over him since October 28. That day, he posted a video on social networks in which he denounced the rapprochement between the PS and the PTB. He then assured that the PS and its mayoral candidate in Schaerbeek, Hasan Koyuncu, were going to ally with the PTB, which he accuses of supporting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, the PKK (considered a terrorist organization in Belgium). “The socialists themselves denounced the PTB’s support for the PKK and now they act as if nothing had happened,” accuses the former candidate.
“He’s very handsome, he’s very nice, he’s very clean but…”: who is Hasan Koyuncu, the winner of the Schaerbeek elections?
As a reminder, to find a majority in Schaerbeek and given the blockage on the question of mayorship between the two lists that came first on October 13 (MR-Engagés and PS), discussions opened between the socialists and the PTB.
Following this video, two fake accounts (with many fake followers) were created on social media and disclosed personal information about Salih Demirhan’s family. “There were also threats by message: Don’t set foot in the neighborhood again. Some criticize me for not supporting the Turkish candidate (Hasan Koyuncu) for the mayorate. And in the end, we come to tag terrorist on my facade.”
Complaint will be filed this Saturday. Salih Demirhan says he has not received any demands. However, he assures that many cameras surround the two vandalized places.
On the side of the MR-Engagés leader in Schaerbeek, Audrey Henry, we denounce an electoral campaign “particularly violent in Schaerbeek.” She invites all group leaders to condemn the acts which targeted the family of her running mate. “I understand that the negotiations for a majority in Schaerbeek can create tensions but we are in a democratic process and nothing justifies such actions.”
Similar reaction at the regional level among the Engagés with Christophe De Beukelaer: “I am shocked at the turn of events in Schaerbeek. I ask my regional president counterparts to call on all their members to calm down. I strongly denounce the harassment and violence suffered by Salih Demirhan and his family since he denounced the potential rise of the far left to power in the communes.
