Belgium: Muslim cleric recites Qur’anic passage in parliament

Muhammad Ansar Butt recited Qur’an 33:45-7: “O prophet, indeed, we have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good news and a warner. And as a summoner to Allah by his permission, and as a lamp that gives light. And announce to the believers the good news that they will have great bounty from Allah.”

That sounds innocuous enough. However, had he gone on to 33:48, he would have read this: “And do not get close to the unbelievers and the hypocrites. Disregard their noxious talk, and put your trust in Allah. Allah is sufficient as trustee.” The same chapter also contains this: “And Allah repulsed the unbelievers in their wrath, they gained nothing good. Allah turned their attack away from the believers. Allah is always strong, mighty. And he brought those among the people of the book who supported them down from their strongholds, and cast terror into their hearts. Some you killed, and some you made captive.” (33:25-6)

Of course, the people in the Brussels Parliament have no idea what’s in the Qur’an. They have no idea what they’re welcoming and legitimizing. But they should.

“An imam recites a prayer in the Brussels Parliament: ‘This incident should not have occurred,'” translated from “Un imam récite une prière au Parlement bruxellois : “Cet incident n’aurait pas dû se produire,”” bx1.be, February 16, 2024 (thanks to Medforth):

Images circulating on social networks show a Pakistani imam reciting, during a ceremony of awards on January 13, a Surah of the Koran in the Brussels Parliament. This event was not organized by the Brussels Parliament, we are told. Following this incident, the regulations will be modified to “respect state neutrality”, according to the president of the Parliament, Rachid Madrane (PS).

Images shared on X, in particular by the Federal MP Theo Francken (N-VA). We see Muhammad Ansar Butt, a Pakistani imam, reciting religious songs in the Brussels parliament.

According to Bruzz, the Imam published this video on his social networks on January 15. It would be a ritual prayer of Islam. Images that make the N-VA MP, questioned by our colleagues jump: “It’s extremely questionable, even shocking. The separation between state and religion is sacred for me. It is reprehensible that someone comes to recite Qur’anic verses in the Parliament of the capital of Europe. ”

The scene took place during a prize ceremony to the Brussels residents of Pakistani origin “who distinguished themselves” in various fields, including sportsmen or entrepreneurs. “As on many occasions, Mrs. Ben Hamou has been invited to give a prize by an association, the Friends of Brussels association in this case,” said her spokesperson. He specifies that she is not the organizer of the event, and does not finance the association.

At the start of the song, the Brussels Secretary of State Nawal Ben Hamou (PS) “then left the hemicycle considering that a parliament even if he must open up to civil society in its diversity, is Not an ordinary place, but a full-fledged state institution, ”adds his spokesperson. The Secretary of State recalls “that state neutrality is a fundamental principle and must therefore lead to avoiding the celebration of philosophical or religious rituals within it.”

The cabinet specifies that a rabbi and a priest were also present at the event.

Recall the order
For his part, the president of the Parliament, Rachid Madrane (PS), explains that the event was not organized by the Parliament, but is part of the regular visits organized at the request of the deputies, here Hasan Koyuncu. He recalls that if parliament must be a place open to citizens, this incident should not have occurred. “He points out that Parliament welcomes nearly 10,000 visitors each year and that it is important that everyone can push the doors of this institution to discover how our democracy works.”

“It is a public institution, it is the heart of democracy, it must remain neutral,” explains his spokesperson. In order to prevent this from happening again, the president will remind him by mail to Mr. Koyuncu, but also to the various group leaders. He will put this question on the agenda of the next office of the Parliament and he will propose to explicitly integrate into the regulations that respect for neutrality is a categorical imperative.

Finally, the president recalls that since February 9 and until June 9, the period of caution preceding the elections, no more visit is organized on the initiative of deputies, ministers or secretaries of state.