4 people were detained on Monday evening during a demonstrator against a visit by a number of liberal figures including the Francophone liberal leader Georges-Louis Bouchez (photo above). Around 200 protesters attempted to prevent participants from entering a conference that was being held at Brussels’ Francophone Free University (ULB). Some of the protesters through missiles at those attempting to enter the auditorium.
4 people detained during demonstration against the Francophone liberal leader at Brussels’ Francophone Free University
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In a statement on Tuesday morning the Brussels-Capital-Elsene Local Police Service said that four people were detained and have since been released.
Monday evening’s conference was organised by the liberal think tank Centre Jean Gol. One of the subjects discussed was the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. Among those present were the leader of the Francophone liberal party MR Georges Louis Bouchez and Louis Sarkozy, the son of the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
A total of 20 student associations had called on their members to protest against the conference and the speakers that were taking part. They said they didn’t want “fascists on campus” and that “ULB, our university, was betraying its own values by welcoming figures that ligitimise war crimes and spread hateful talk”.
In an interview with the French news channel LCI in September, when asked about the Israeli operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon Mr Sarkozy said “Let them all die. Here Israel is working for humanity”. Mr Bouchez also courted controversy when he said that the Israeli attack on Hezbollah was “a genial move”.
University regrets incident
In a statement ULB says that it regrets Monday evening’s incidents and it condems the use of violence. “The diversity of the community here at the ULB is our university’s wealth and unavoidably this leads to clashes of ideas.”
The Centre Jean Gol called for a serene debate on the issue. Since it was set up it has promoted open dialogue and diversity of opinion.
"Unfortunately, some chose to, rather than discuss, to censure and accuse”, the think tank said in a press statement.