Prime minister calls for “united front against radicalism”

Belgian prime minister Charles Michel called for a “united front against hatred and radicalism” in a meeting with the country’s religious and ethical leaders yesterday. Speaking one week after the terrorist attacks on Paris’ Charlie Hebdo newspaper, Michel stressed the important of upholding “universal values”.

“Belgium is an open, tolerant and welcoming country,” he told the religious leaders, “and there is no place here for terrorism, radicalism or preaching hatred.”

The group agreed to meet regularly to maintain a permanent dialogue with the justice and security ministers and to discuss the measures that were needed to protect particular places and people from terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile, Flanders’ minister-president, Geert Bourgeois, told the Flemish Parliament that his government would act on every level to fight the threat of extremist violence. He called on everyone – “established and new Flemings, believers and non-believers – to join together to protect the fundamental values and freedoms of a democratic society”.

The atmosphere was tense yesterday as the first issue of Charlie Hebdo went on sale since the attacks last week that left 12 journalists and cartoonists of the controversial satirical weekly shot dead by Islamic extremists. The newspaper is also sold in 750 outlets in Belgium.

The newsagents and other sellers of the paper sold out the 20,000 copies earmarked for Belgium almost immediately. Many newsagents took reservations ahead of time, and those who had not reserved a copy generally couldn’t get one. Ten thousand more copies of the edition are on sale across the country today, and 10,000 more are expected by the weekend.

The editorial staff of Charlie Hebdo decided to print a cartoon of the prophet Mohammed on the front cover, and four newsagents in Brussels’ Jette district received pamphlets threatening them if they sold the paper. In Antwerp, three newsagents reported similar threats.

Police in Brussels said they were taking the threats seriously and are examining security camera footage in the neighbourhood. “We intend to catch the person or persons responsible for this threat,” said a spokesperson.

photo by Filip De Smet / BELGA