In Molenbeek, Iliass Does Not Forget His Father Beaten by Hooligans

The assault took place on the sidelines of the Belgian Cup final. Bruges supporters targeted the family hardware store located on rue Vanderstichelen. According to information reported by Belgian media DHnet, the attack first targeted Iliass Ziani outside the shop, before the group entered inside to wreak havoc.

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The material damage amounts to 30,000 euros, a loss that insurance refused to cover on the grounds that acts of hooliganism do not fall within its criteria. The physical consequences are also severe. Mouloud, the 74-year-old father, suffered a head wound and multiple bruises. His son also bears lasting effects. "Today, we still take medication for pain and anxiety," he confides.

The immediate response left victims with a sense of bewilderment. Emergency services took three-quarters of an hour to intervene and police arrived at the scene after the attackers fled. Moreover, it took a week and hiring a lawyer to successfully file a complaint.

On the judicial front, three individuals were referred to criminal court. A decision deemed insufficient by the young shopkeeper, who points out that videos show much broader participation. "I would like all those we see to be convicted," he insists.

Faced with Club Bruges’s lack of response and the silence of local authorities once media attention faded, the family could count on the solidarity of their neighborhood. A fundraiser notably raised just over 6,000 euros, a sum used to install new surveillance cameras.

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While the municipality plans to present him with an honorary citizen award on Monday, Iliass remains focused on the upcoming trial. The memory of his father beaten in his own establishment remains his deepest wound.