The list leader of Team Fouad Ahidar in Brussels City, Mourad Maimouni, filed an official complaint with the police against MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez for "glorifying terrorism" following his statements about the pager attack targeting members of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
The conflict in the Middle East escalated when at least 42 people (including at least 12 civilians, of which at least two children) were killed in the detonation of pagers last week. Thousands of victims were injured when the devices exploded. Hezbollah and the Lebanese Government accused Israeli security service Mossad of being behind the attack.
In an interview on Brussels-based Radio Judaica on Tuesday, Bouchez described the attack as "a stroke of genius" and an "intelligent way of doing things." He said that whoever held a pager "was part of the organisation" and added that the attack "also completely exposed Hezbollah's organisational chart."
For Bouchez, it is also not correct to call it a terror attack – as outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter (Groen) did. "At some point, people have the right to defend themselves against terrorists," he said.
'Glorification of war crimes'
Team Fouad Ahidar's Maimouni, who is an independent on the City Council of Brussels, called Bouchez's statements "unacceptable" and "a possible trivialisation of extremely serious acts of violence."
"I believe that these statements fall under the glorification of terrorism and the glorification of war crimes, as well as the glorification of war crimes under international humanitarian law and under Article 140 of the Belgian Penal Code," Maimouni said. "These statements indirectly legitimise military actions that cause the death of innocent civilians and contribute to the importation of a conflict that could lead to acts of violence on our territory."
This view is shared by party leader Fouad Ahidar, who called Bouchez's statements "irresponsible," "dangerous" and showing "a morally reprehensible vision" of international relations. "We cannot tolerate public figures justifying military attacks under the guise of strategy, especially when they lead to the suffering of civilians."
Federal MP Rajae Maouane, also a candidate (Ecolo-Groen) for the City of Brussels, responded with strong criticism. "Killing civilians, including children, and terrorising an already suffering population, is what the MR calls genius. What horror. What shame. Where is your moral compass, Mr Bouchez?"
MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez. Credit: Belga/Lauria Dieffembacq
In a reaction on social media, Bouchez called on politicians to stop "instrumentalising" the conflict in the Middle East. He also called for an end to the fighting and said he condemns all civilian deaths.
"At the same time, it is perfectly legitimate to neutralise Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists," he added. "The pager operation allowed this to be done in a much more targeted way than with indiscriminate bombing. According to numerous reports, this attack killed 37 people, including four civilians. That is four civilians too many, but it is also infinitely fewer than would be the case with bombing."
Earlier, Groen co-leader Nadia Naji called Bouchez's statements "disgusting" and stated that "the only brilliant move is an immediate ceasefire." Brussels MP Jamal Ikazban (PS) accused Bouchez of "justifying war crimes."
In a striking press release, the MR youth wing in the Brussels municipality of Evere also distanced itself from Bouchez's statements. According to the young liberals, the statements reveals a "flagrant misunderstanding of the situation."
