Refugees, radicalism and the Red Devils: 2015 in review

The year in Belgium was marked in its closing stages by terror lockdown, by radicalisation and by refugee issues. But it was also the year of a world-beating football side, fresh air in the centre of Brussels and new faces in the arts. Join us as we look back on 2015.

Facebook vs Belgium
Facebook first made its appearance as a theme of the year in June, when the Privacy Commission filed suit against the social network over the controversial datr cookie, which tracks your internet behaviour after you’ve visited a Facebook page – or any page with a Facebook Like or Share button. That’s all very well if, like more than a billion people, you’ve signed up to Facebook’s privacy conditions (which you do by having a profile). The Commission was complaining on behalf of non-members – those without Facebook accounts – who get the same cookie without having agreed to anything. Facebook cited security reasons, but in the end was forced to change its ways or face a fine. As the year ends, it’s closed its pages to non-members in Belgium, but the issue is not resolved yet.

Refugee camp dominates Brussels skyline
If one image represented the year in news, it was that of little Alan Kurdi, who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea as his family tried to escape the war in Syria and washed up on a beach in Turkey. Belgium had its own refugee problem to think of, with newcomers arriving in such numbers they could not be processed, leading to the spontaneous camp in Parc Maximilien near North station, soon taken over by the Red Cross and a band of volunteers. Some saw the site as an embarrassment to the image of the Capital of Europe, but it actually functioned rather well. Eventually the refugees were moved to other locations or moved to the WTC building nearby, and the problem disappeared from view. At the end of the year, however, the people were still coming, and still camping out, this time in an empty office building.

Molenbeek shines a light on radicalisation
The discovery that three of the terrorists involved in the 13 November attacks on Paris came from Molenbeek, as pointed out by prime minister Charles Michel, was picked up by the international media, which immediately condemned the district and, by extension, Brussels. At the same time, the government set up a database of the names of Syria fighters, prepared legislation to deal with them on their return and reinforced programmes in vulnerable areas to identify those at risk and turn them off the path towards radicalisation. The work may never be over, but it’s under way.

Brussels on one-way road to pedestrian zone
Brussels-City council ended last year with a hotly contested proposal to build an underground car park under the historic Vossenplein in the Marolles district, home of the famous flea market. The plan was scrapped in a wave of public protest. The council ends this year with another controversial proposal on its plate: the pedestrian zone that took over the central avenues from De Brouckère to Fontainas in June for a test period of eight months. Residents have had a love/hate relationship with the zone, which has been characterised by drunks, beggars and litter, particularly after dark. Businesses in the zone complain they’re on the brink of bankruptcy. The review is expected in February, but no-one seriously expects that the zone will disappear.

Freedom of religion and ritual slaughter
Every year during the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha – Feast of the Sacrifice – many Muslims buy a sheep to be slaughtered in ritual fashion, by slitting the throat. In Flanders, however, it’s now illegal to slaughter an animal without first stunning it except in officially licenced slaughterhouses. Ritual slaughter does not allow stunning. This year, animal welfare minister Ben Weyts declared that halal slaughter would only be permitted in the licensed slaughterhouses and not in the temporary facilities set up every year during Eid to handle demand. A group of Muslim organisations took the case to court to try to get the stunning ban lifted temporarily. They lost, so the Muslim advisory body the Council of Theologians told Muslims that they could be excused from their duty of sacrifice this year, in the hope of finding a solution by next year.

Red Devils at number one
The national football team, the Red Devils, had the best year of their lives, ending 2015 at the top of the Fifa rankings. The side attained the position in October, thanks to a complicated calculus that involved Ireland beating Germany and Ecuador defeating then-leaders Argentina. The side also qualified for Euro 2016 at the top of their group, but when the draw for that competition was made last week, faces fell somewhat: Belgium were drawn against Ireland, Italy and Sweden. Belgium beat Italy in a friendly in November, and the Italian manager has said that Belgium are among the favourites to win the tournament, but Italy are world-beaters, and both Sweden and Ireland are capable of surprises.

Jozef De Kesel takes over as new archbishop
Jozef De Kesel was appointed by Rome as the new archbishop of Belgium to replace the retiring André Léonard. Moderate and soft-spoken, the former bishop of Bruges is unlikely to make the sort of controversial, socially conservative statements for which Léonard was known, while being more moderate than the progressive Antwerp bishop Johan Bonny, who many thought would get the post. In other words, he is likely the perfect man for the job, under Pope Francis, who also speaks softly but carries a big doctrinal stick. De Kesel officiated at his first Mass as archbishop in the Brussels Cathedral earlier this week. The Catholic church, he said, “must address the major challenges facing society,” referring to same-sex marriage, reproductive rights and divorce. Whether that means a shift of position on any of those subjects, God alone knows.

K3 sheds its skin to find a butterfly within
K3 is no more – long live K3! The original singing trio, plucked from obscurity by media company Studio 100 and turned into a multimedia phenomenon with huge appeal to pre-pubescent girls, had been going for 17 years and decided it was time to retire. The group would disband, but the money train would continue down the track with the new K3, chosen via a televised talent competition, naturally. The three new members – Marthe, Hanne and Klaasje – are now on a joint farewell/inaugural tour with the original K3 in Flanders and the Netherlands.

Black: All is fair in love and war
Black, the film event of the year, is a Romeo and Juliet tale of teenagers from rival gangs in Brussels who fall in love – with dramatic consequences. The film was directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah and was based on books by Flemish young adult author Dirk Bracke. Martha Canga Antonio, who plays the lead character Mavela, has attracted much attention, winning Best Actress at the Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn last month, among other honours.

Photo: Nicolas Maeterlinck/BELGA