The measure was the subject of an appeal before the Council of State. This Monday, December 30, the auditor of the Council of State considered that this house arrest was illegal and contrary to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. But the auditor did not request the suspension of this measure. The Council of State rejected the appeal aimed at suspending the curfew that the mayor of Anderlecht wants to establish for New Year’s Eve. Therefore, the curfew for young people under 16 will remain in effect. The highest court in the country thus follows the auditor, who had issued the same opinion earlier in the day.
Azim and Ridouan, aged 15 and 14 respectively, met before the final decision of the Council of State, smile when we talk about this ban. When asked whether they will defy the bans if they are indeed in force, the first avoids answering while the second intervenes without hesitation.no matter what is decided, of course I’m going to go out, Madam.”
And added: “I understand the police because some young people really do anything. But for me, if I have a firecracker, it’s not to throw it at people or a car, I’m neither stupid nor crazy. All I want to do is laugh with my friends and have fun and see the show. We’re like the other kids from other neighborhoods, we want to see beautiful lights in the sky.”
The Council of State rejects the appeal for suspension against the curfew in Anderlecht for minors on New Year’s Eve
“More education, fewer prohibitions”
In any case, many residents of Cureghem consider this measure incomprehensible. “I don’t find it very educational. And I think that might be counterproductive.“reacts Sophia Rodriguez Goldberg, met on the Chaussée de Mons. This artist who lives and works in the area believes that this is a measure”discriminatory and classist“. “I think it would have been better to find a space dedicated to these young people so that they could express this form of energy. It is necessary for young people. But we live in a society that doesn’t understand this type of thing.”
Abdeljalil, a “former” from Cureghem, agrees. According to this fifty-year-old, the mayor of Anderlecht would have done better to speak directly to young people to ask them to be calm. “When I was 14, I would sneak out of the house to play in the street. We see the little ones doing the same and we make sure they don’t do anything stupid, he explains. We already see some people killing each other over drugs, so we are vigilant with those who just want to have fun. For those who do stupid things, the police are already there. Fabrice Cumps had the opportunity to go see these kids and tell them not to mess around on the night of the 31st. He would have had their full attention. What he’s doing there is just absurd.”
These residents recognize that New Year’s Eve has not always gone well in the neighborhood, but they believe that a measure “also discriminatory“is not justified for all that.”Telling a teen not to do this or that will only cause the opposite. It’s specific to adolescencesays Hélène, a young mother who lives in the neighborhood. I come from a village in the depths of Belgium. We would go out and spend the night outside with firecrackers without it being a problem. I understand the authorities and I think action had to be taken. But I believe that a little more education and fewer prohibitions would have had more effects.”
“No hunting of minors”
Samira absolutely does not agree with her neighbors and says she thanks the authorities. “When things go crazy, we have the impression that there’s war outside, she reacted. I can imagine that young people want to have fun. But I don’t see how there’s any pleasure in burning tires or cars or scooters or whatever. There’s nothing festive about that at all.”
Contacted, the head of the Midi zone, Jürgen De Landsheer, explains that the police have “no intention of leading a hunt for minors.” “The measures taken are in the security interests of ordinary citizens and ambulance workers who are still far too often targeted by fireworks and firecrackers, the policeman begins. Our job is to ensure that the transition to year nine is safe for everyone. And I emphasize when I say everyone. Furthermore, we want to confront certain young people with their responsibilities by reminding them that security risks exist for them too.”
