Right to Protest and solidarity: 731 days of genocide (NL)

Almost 731 days. 731 days since 7 October 2023. That is how long genocide has been raging. In Gaza and in the silence of European institutions, in squares where the right to protest and solidarity is suppressed.

Fundamental rights do not disappear on their own. To alllow genocide to continue, diaspora voices are marginalised, journalists are intimidated and civil society is forced into silence. Those who remain silent normalise violence.

Terwijl dagelijks aan de Beurs tegen de genocide wordt geprotesteerd, antwoordt België met nieuwe wetten die protest beperken, met politiegeweld en framing. Daarom komen we samen: om te luisteren, te spreken, te herinneren en te weigeren weg te kijken.

While protests against genocide take place daily at the Bourse, Belgium responds with new laws restricting protest, police violence and framing. That is why we come together: to listen, to speak, to remember and to refuse to look away.

This panel discussion brings together practice and analysis and creates space for protest, life and dignity.

Speakers

Suzanne Eleya grew up in Palestine but has been living in Mechelen for several years. Over the past 18 months, she was forced to stay in Palestine due to the war. With the help of the government, she was able to return to Belgium. She is the driving force behind Vrienden van Palestina, through which she organises all kinds of activities and fundraising campaigns.

Fatima Menti is a member of  Youth4Palestina, a group of young people from Limburg who travelled to Palestine in 2020. Together with local young people, they planted trees as a sign of peace and saw the reality on the West Bank. Since then, they have been campaigning in Flanders through film screenings and fundraising campaigns.

Wies De Graeve has been the director of the Flemish branch of Amnesty International since 2016. Prior to that, he was active at the Vlaams Vredesinstituut for over ten years.

Moderator: Mohammed Kassab. Mohammed is queer, Muslim and from Gaza. He is a public worker at VIERNULVIER in Ghent and is active in socio-cultural work, with a focus on inclusion, participation and empowerment of young people and vulnerable groups.

Practical Info

ATTENTION: This time, everyone is EXCEPTIONALLY welcome from 11:45 am and we will conclude with soup prepared by members of the Palestinian community.

Following the panel discussion, there will be time for questions from the audiance.

Registration is recommended but not required.