This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Brussels – Ezzedine Lamrini
In an unprecedented measure, the municipality of Anderlecht, in the Belgian capital, Brussels, announced the imposition of a curfew on unaccompanied minors under the age of 16 on New Year’s Eve.
This decision is part of exceptional security measures aimed at maintaining public order and protecting youth by revitalizing the municipality of Anderlecht, known for its history full of security problems, on this annual occasion.
According to the security meeting held last Friday, with the participation of 19 municipalities constituted in the Brussels region, it was confirmed that the ban would not concern all parts of the capital with the exception of the municipality of Anderlecht.
The decision notably provides for the prohibition of minors under the age of 16 from leaving their home without the accompaniment of a parent or legal guardian, from seven o’clock in the evening on New Year’s Eve.
The move aims to reduce the security chaos seen in the region, as many areas of Anderlecht are known to be hotspots and bastions of feuds and riots.
The reaction to this decision was not long in coming, as criticism increased from certain associations and activists in the municipality on Facebook, where they expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision, believing that this ban reflects a unfair discrimination against young people from working-class neighborhoods, especially those who belong to ethnic and social minorities.
On the other hand, Fabric Coombs, mayor of Anderlecht, defended his decision, saying that this measure is not a curfew, but rather a “tool available to the police” aimed at reducing risks and better protecting local miners.
The mayor stressed that the objective is to ensure the security of the New Year’s celebration, while emphasizing that the police will not differentiate between citizens, but will intervene if they observe suspicious behavior.
In a report published by Safe.Brussels, statistics on the security situation on the eve of New Year 2023-2024 were revealed. Most of the arrests took place in the Midi police district, where 54 people were arrested, including 41 in Anderlecht.
The reports also revealed 82 firefighter interventions on New Year’s Eve, including 59 trash and tree fires, in addition to 32 car accidents. Even though these incidents were spread across the different regions of Brussels, Anderlecht was the most affected.
As New Year’s Eve approaches, the question remains: will these measures prevent chaos or lead to an escalation of tensions and protests?
