Belgium

Articles

• Woman Claims to be Hidden Daughter of Morocco’s Late King Hassan II in Belgian Court Battle
  20 May 2024, by Prince

  Jane Benzaquen, a 71-year-old Belgian-Israeli woman, launched a legal action in Belgium three years ago to be recognized as the hidden daughter of the late King Hassan II. She is determined to go all the way.
  "The decision was not easy, but I remain strong. I am convinced that the truth will come to light," said El Independiente’s Jane, who hopes that the Belgian justice system will rule in her favor and recognize her as the hidden daughter of the late King Hassan II, and therefore the (…)

• Investigation Launched After Belgian Bus Driver Stops to Pray Mid-Route
  9 February 2019, by Laila

  The Belgian public transport company De Lijn has opened an investigation after a Muslim driver was photographed praying in his bus in the middle of passengers.
  The far-right party Vlaams Belang seized on this case and decided to take the matter to court. According to this complaint, the driver stopped during the trip between Antwerp and Berchem, removed his De Lijn jacket, placed his prayer mat in the middle of the passenger seats and prayed for about ten minutes. This incident would have (…)

• Antwerp Drug Baron Among Belgium’s Most Wanted Fugitives
  14 October 2019, by Sylvanus

  Rachid Bouazza, a Moroccan Resident Abroad (MRE), is an Antwerp drug baron. He is now on the list of the most wanted criminals in Belgium.
  At 55 years old, he is one of the 20 people whose name is on the list of the most wanted criminals ("Most Wanted") by the "Fast" team of the Federal Police, reports Belga.
  According to the same source, the Antwerp Court of Appeal had sentenced this drug baron from the Belgian port city to 20 years in prison on March 29 last. Six years earlier, he had (…)

• Antwerp Evicts 13 Social Housing Tenants for Fraud, Including Overseas Property Owner
  26 October 2019, by Sylvanus

  In total, 13 social tenants, including one who owns houses in Morocco, will be evicted from their housing in Antwerp and prosecuted. They have violated the law regarding the rental of social housing.
  No one can indeed claim social housing if they own real estate, even abroad. Many social tenants have trampled on this clause of the law. In this sense, the city of Antwerp has opened 40 files on social tenants, suspected of fraud, reports the private Flemish channel, VTM.
  The examination (…)

• Genk Midfielder Bilal El Khannouss Chooses Morocco Over Belgium for Senior International Career
  7 November 2022, by Sylvanus

  The attacking midfielder of KRC Genk Bilal El Khannouss has turned his back on Belgium and chosen Morocco. He explains his choice.
  Although he played for the Belgian junior teams of U15, U16, U17 and U18, Bilal El Khannouss preferred the Atlas Lions to the Red Devils at the senior level. "I then had the chance to play for Morocco. My grandparents are from Morocco and I want to make them proud, hence this choice," he explains in a conversation with his teammate Patrik Hrosovsky on the (…)

• Belgium’s Lois Openda Reveals Morocco Approached Him Before World Cup Selection
  18 November 2022, by Armel

  The Lens striker, Lois Openda, could have played for Morocco. In an interview, the player said he had been in contact with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
  Speaking on Wednesday about his selection with the Red Devils for the World Cup, the 22-year-old player said he had been approached by the Moroccan football authorities. Openda holds dual Belgian-Moroccan nationality and has always played within the Belgian youth teams, recalls Belga.
  "I have always wanted to play for (…)

• Belgian Prosecutors Probe Moroccan Ambassador in EU Parliament Corruption Scandal
  19 December 2022, by Sylvanus

  Abderrahim Atmoun, a former MP, current Moroccan ambassador to Poland, is in the sights of the Belgian justice system following the corruption scandal that is shaking the European Parliament.
  Abderrahim Atmoun is cited in the corruption scandal rocking the European Parliament. He would be involved in a network of bribes to parliamentarians that the Belgian prosecutor’s office is investigating, reports the daily Le Soir.be. He owes his diplomatic successes, notably the agricultural and (…)

• Belgian Paraglider Dies in Accident in Southern Morocco
  6 March, by Said

  A 57-year-old Belgian national, originally from Affligem (Flemish Brabant), died on Monday in Morocco in a paragliding accident. The information was confirmed by the FPS Foreign Affairs.
  The man was in the province of Tiznit, an area known to paragliding enthusiasts, with a group of friends. His flight ended in a fall, the causes of which have not yet been established.
  The public prosecutor’s office went to the scene and opened an investigation. The victim’s body was transferred to a (…)

• Belgian Man Gets 8-Year Sentence in Morocco for Alleged Family Sexual Abuse
  9 September 2022, by Ginette

  A Belgian national was sentenced on Thursday to eight years in prison by the Meknes Court of Appeal for sexual abuse within the family. The accusations were brought against him by his ex-wife, of Moroccan origin.
  Since his arrest, Marc Moerman has always denied the facts, stressing that he has been the victim of a trap set up from scratch by his in-laws who are pursuing purely financial objectives. On April 14, the 58-year-old father had been sentenced in the first instance by the Meknes (…)

• Cycling Star Evenepoel and Wife Launch Fundraiser for Morocco Earthquake Victims
  20 September 2023, by Prince

  Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel and his wife Oumaima Oumi Rayane, of Moroccan origin, expressed their solidarity with the Moroccan people after the deadly earthquake that hit the Al Haouz province in the Marrakech region and killed 3,000 people.
  The Belgian champion had shown a Moroccan flag as a sign of solidarity with the Moroccan people before the Vuelta. After this tour that he did not win, Remco and his wife Omaima Oumi Rayane, of Moroccan origin, have shown their support for the (…)