Antwerp, Northern Belgium: Europe and the Arabs
The Christian Democratic Party in the Belgian province of Antwerp announced today, Wednesday, the electoral list with which it will run in the local elections scheduled for the thirteenth of next October.
The list included Arab, African and Islamic figures of various nationalities, including from Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Congo and others. A number of them occupied advanced positions on the electoral lists, whether at the municipal level or the Antwerp district. For example, the Moroccan-born Touria Ahraten, who came in second place, is of Moroccan origin and is well-known among Arab communities and Belgians thanks to her experience in party work and the activity she carries out in social work and helping others. She is the head of the Hope Association in Hoboken, affiliated with the city of Antwerp. The list also includes the Tunisian Halima Bouzian, who also has a good network of relations with immigrants of different origins and also with Belgians thanks to her media activity and volunteer work to help others in Antwerp. She is expected to have a great future in party work. There is also the young Moroccan Ali Al-Moussawi, who is of Moroccan origin and has experience in party work and is popular among Arab communities. There is also Hassana Al-Razouqi, who is running for the elections wearing the hijab, and the list announced by the party included her picture wearing the hijab. In addition to that, there is the young Yasser Al-Tawil, 19 years old, and his picture with a beard appeared on the list. He is the son of the well-known Islamic preacher in Belgium, Nourredine Al-Tawil. Yasser said in statements to the website and newspaper "Europe and the Arabs" that he took this step to be a model for young people, so that we can encourage them to have a role in the society in which they live and to have a role in defining rights and interests, not only for young people of foreign origins, but also for Belgian youth. He added that he was born in Belgium and raised in this society and wants to have a role in it because he belongs to it. Regarding his choice to join this party, he said that he found many things in the party’s program that he liked and that were in line with the ideas he believes in, as well as with the ideas of a large number of young people in this city where I live, which is known for its cultural diversity and multinationality. I have had friendships in school since I was young, whether with Belgians, Turks, Moroccans, and others. When I grew up and was required to vote in the elections, I had to choose which party I would vote for. For this reason, I found, for example, the far-right Flemish party that has tendencies against people of foreign origin. I also did not find anything I liked in the leftist parties, so I chose the Christian Democratic Party, which is a centrist party. I personally do not tend to lean right or left, and I prefer the middle ground. I wish the best for everyone and to achieve ambitions and hopes in the society in which we live. I will run in the elections on the party’s list for the municipality of Hoboken. Caroline Kreikles, a prominent member of the party, told the Europe and Arabs website and newspaper, “There is interest in everyone, especially since society consists of multiple groups, and it is natural that there are those who represent them in the party lists. We wanted to give the opportunity to all ages.” Among them are young people whom we want to encourage at the beginning of party work, and I wish them all success.