Religious Revival Among Belgian Youth Sparks Concern in Schools and Society

"There is a religious revival, a re-Islamization from below. This is more evident among young people, because they are in contact with education which is becoming a conflictual place. In adults, it is less visible, but we can see it for example with the refusal to be treated by a woman or a man," explains Joël Kotek, political scientist and historian for La Dernière Heure. He says he has noticed that "young people are more religious than their grandparents and we can also see it in the Arab world. It may be linked to a kind of disenchantment, to the difficulty of countries like Egypt, Morocco or Israel to build themselves."

Radouane Attiya, professor of religion and Islamologist, somewhat exonerates the family: "Many parents are powerless in the face of the radicalism of their children. We need to look at the side of camaraderie, social networks and radical imams. Young people are looking for an authority, but it can contribute to a kind of social divide and the return of a certain religious rigorism." Maud, a history teacher, designates religion as a lifeline in the face of a loss of bearings, the anxiety of the future and the fear of going to hell. According to her, young people would be an easy target and the place would be just right. "There is an Islamist ideology at work that targets schools, because that’s where we shape minds," warns Laurence D’Hondt, co-author of "Allah has nothing to do in my class," a book that will be published soon.

Since the assassination of history-geography teacher Samuel Paty in France who showed a caricature of the Prophet Mohammad in class, "teaching has become dangerous. Even if we know our students, there is a feeling of insecurity, because we don’t know if they would talk about it to a brother, an uncle, a cousin," says Maud. Her relatives have already told her that her head would be put on a price if she continued. Like her, many teachers are concerned about the radicalization of students in Belgium. "It’s violent what we sometimes hear. At the time of the attacks, some students applauded in the classrooms, I found the name of the Tunisian, author of the shooting that killed two Swedes, on the board," recounts Alicia. Some support the behavior of Afghans towards women.

A parent insulted this teacher of racism after she made a remark to his daughter who was wearing the abaya, prohibited in the school regulations. "I find myself having to explain how we live in Belgium, which is not my role."

Based on these findings, Valérie Glatigny (MR), Minister of Compulsory Education, is working to implement a new contract between schools, parents and students. It is also planned to expand a listening service to issues of self-censorship [...] in order to restore the authority and respect of teachers. In parallel, a barometer of respect is launched for the 130,000 teachers. "Based on the results of this survey, we will be able to propose solutions," promises the minister.