Muhammad Ansar Butt, the Pakistani imam who recited verses form the Koran, the holy book of Islam, at the Brussels parliament, has apologised for the furore his actions caused. On Monday the Brussels parliament decided to tighten up rules on visits. The whole affair will be the topic of discussion during a debate at the Brussels assembly on Friday.
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Imam Ansar Butt apologises for reciting Koranic verses at Brussels parliament
Colin Clapson
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The imam, the leader of an Islamic community who usually leads prayers at the mosque, made his apology in a letter to Rachid Madrane (Francophone socialist), the speaker of the Brussels parliament. The imam said he was unaware that his recitation of Koranic verses could be interpreted as a violation of the separation of church and state, which is enshrined in Belgium’s basic law.
"It was never my intention to prejudice the principles and values that underpin the functioning of the Brussels parliamentary institution, and in particular the fundamental principle of the non-interference of religion in the spheres of the state and its institutions," the letter published in newspaper La Dernière Heure reads.
"I would like to offer my sincere apologies to the institution of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region, and through it to anyone who may have felt offended, if my contribution was perceived as violating all these principles," the imam writes.
What exactly happened?
The incident happened mid-January during an award ceremony at the Brussels parliament when Brussels residents of Pakistani heritage received the Brussels Community Award. Nawal Ben Hamou (Francophone socialist), the Brussels equal opportunities secretary, had invited Imam Muhammad Ansar Butt. His recitation of Koranic verses in the parliament was filmed and posted on social media causing outrage in many quarters.
What action is being taken?
On Monday the parliament’s bureau, which decides on parliamentary process, discussed the incident. Flemish nationalist lawmaker Cieltje Van Achter laid bare what had gone wrong: “The problem with the visit was it started as a guided tour, but then turned into an event”. After the bureau’s meeting Speaker Madrane was able to announce stricter rules for visits and the use of the parliament’s podium.
The whole matter is up for discussion on Friday. The Francophone liberals of MR, who were particularly incensed by the flouting of Belgium’s basic law, saw their calls for a commission of enquiry to investigate the matter vetoed.
Ideological battle among Francophone socialists
The involvement of Francophone socialist politicians reopened fresh wounds. Within the French-speaking socialists, two currents - the traditional secularists versus a more Islamist current - have been waging an ideological battle for some time. Speaker Madrane advocates inclusive secularism and last week stressed that parliament "must remain absolutely neutral."
Another Brussels PS leader, federal pensions minister Karine Lalieux, called the imam's actions "totally unacceptable", without pointing the finger at her colleagues involved. "Let's not go in search of individual responsibility, but make sure it never happens again," she said.