Belgian Prime Minister De Croo: Showing sympathy for an organization like PKK cannot be tolerated

In his press conference after the National Security Council meeting, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo spoke about the recent attacks by supporters of the terrorist organization PKK targeting Turks in different parts of the country.

Stating that there is freedom of thought and expression in Belgium, De Croo said, “Showing sympathy and provocation to an organization classified as a terrorist organization, such as the PKK, cannot be tolerated.” he said.

De Croo emphasized that PKK is also considered a terrorist organization in Europe and said, “We want to give this message clearly: Provocations must stop.” he said.

Noting that many people from abroad also participated in the violent incidents, De Croo said, “However, we do not have any evidence that this was organized from abroad.” he said.

Attacks by supporters of the terrorist organization PKK. A group of approximately 150 supporters of the terrorist organization PKK/YPG dismantled the barricades in front of the European Parliament in Brussels on March 25 and attacked the police.

The crowd, who wanted to walk first towards the street where Türkiye’s Brussels Embassy is located, and then towards Schuman Square, where the European Union institutions are located, encountered police obstacles.

Continuing the violent incidents in the country, supporters of the organization also caused chaos in the village of Cheratte, Liege, where the majority of the population is Turks, during the same night.

The group that set the Ülkü Ocakları building on fire also attacked the mosque and broke its windows. The group, who covered their faces and walked around the streets shouting slogans in favor of the terrorist organization, damaged houses, shops and vehicles belonging to Turks.

Eyewitnesses reported that the police did not intervene in the events. On March 24, PKK supporters, returning from the so-called celebrations related to Newroz in the city of Heusden-Zolder, about an hour away from Brussels, passed through the street where citizens of Turkish origin were concentrated, carrying pieces of cloth symbolizing the terrorist organization PKK and posters of leader Abdullah Öcalan in their cars.

Citizens of Turkish origin living in the city reacted to this, and then a brawl broke out.

İbrahim Akif Dankuş
UCWEP European Coordinator