On Thursday in the Belgian town of Genk, LBGTQ activists were accosted at a technical school as they attempted to distribute pamphlets and rainbow-colored hearts. Dozens of students surrounded their table, threw bottles, jeered them, and spit on the materials all the while shouting, "Allahu akhbar!". The below article from the French-language daily, 7 Sur 7 (Belgium) is translated by Fousesquawk. We are working on adding English subtitles to the video in the article.
"Allahu Akhbar!" Students in Limburg school jeer and spit on LGBTQ flag
Two municipal employees and a volunteer from the LGBTQ+OGWA* association were verbally attacked by students of a technical school in Genk (Limburg province) on Thursday. "Allahu akhbar" was intoned by several dozen college students while spitting on the LGBTQ flag. "The atmosphere was deleterious," testified one of the attacked persons. The images led to general indignation on social media.
* OGWA (Ook Genks Wel Anders in Dutch) is an association in Genk dedicated to fighting homophobia.
Staff May 13, 2023 at 10:41. Last update-16:46. Source Nieuwsblad.
An event to raise awareness on homophobia completely degenerated at Atlas Technical College in Genk. This event took place within the framework of the Global Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHO), which was to be celebrated May 17.
May 17 was chosen as a symbolic date to commemorate the decision of the World Health Organization on May 17, 1990 to no longer consider homosexuality as a mental disease.
"We were set up in the playground during the break distributing pamphlets and rainbow-colored hearts," explains one of the people abused. "Not everyone agrees with us, but yesterday, the atmosphere was very electric. A group of youths gathered around our table and began to jeer us."
Bottle throwing and spitting
A crowd was created, and more and more students gathered around the table. According to the targeted employees, there were more than a hundred at one point. The situation completely degenerated. "They kept on shouting, throwing bottles, and spitting on the rainbow hearts. We were aided by the professors present on the playground who supported us until the bell rang. At that time, most of the youths returned to class, and calm was restored."
Municipal authorities strongly condemned the actions. "This behavior touches me profoundly. I am disconcerted," laments Anniek Nagels (CD&V party), deputy to the mayor for the Culture of Living Together. Genk is synonymous with a respectful society, where everyone can be themselves." The city of Genk will lodge a complaint and consult with the establishment.
The school also disapproves of the behavior of the students. "We are shocked by what happened yesterday, it is completely unacceptable," reacts the director general, Christel Schepers. "This does not correspond to what the school represents. That is why we are taking measures. We will initiate a dialogue with the students in the coming weeks, and we will address the question in collaboration with the city."
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