Antwerp, Belgium: Europe and the Arabs
Large numbers of members of the Arab communities residing in the northern Belgian city of Antwerp and nearby cities were keen to participate in the funeral prayer for the 32-year-old Tunisian man, Elias, who was stabbed to death by an 18-year-old African man in an incident that occurred last Sunday.
The funeral prayer was held today, Friday, at the Al-Nasr wal-Fath Mosque in Antwerp, with the participation of a large number of worshippers, as the mosque can accommodate thousands of people. The funeral prayer was held amidst an atmosphere of sadness that prevailed among everyone, in the presence of representatives of the Tunisian Consulate in Belgium, including Assistant Consul Abdelkarim Boukline, and a number of members of the Tunisian community and other Arab and Islamic communities. Tunisian Bassine Al-Tayyan said that the murdered young man was a good person who did not have residency papers in Belgium. He was praying and died while defending a woman from the harassment of a young Somali man and was fatally stabbed. He added that the body will leave for Tunisia on Sunday for burial there. Moroccan Sheikh Noureddine, the imam of the mosque, delivered a speech in which he said that he considered this young man a martyr and prayed with everyone for mercy for him and for his family to be patient. He called on young people to consider what happened as a lesson and a great honor, to realize that death knows no age and that everyone should commit to doing good things that bring them closer to God. After the sermon and Friday prayers, a Tunisian Sheikh, Sheikh Abdelkarim bin Mahmoud, stepped forward to lead the funeral prayer. He told the "Europe and Arabs" website that he had come to the mosque upon the recommendation of a number of Tunisians. He said that the young man, Elias, died as a martyr while defending a woman's honor, even if she was Belgian. This demonstrates that Islam does not discriminate against anyone in defending honor and dignity. He thanked the Tunisian consulate, adding that he had contacted the honorable lady who serves as consul, who was keen to send a representative from the consulate to offer condolences and attend the funeral prayer. Indeed, the vice consul stood with the deceased's friends and received condolences from the worshippers. One of the young men brought him a phone and was conducting a video call with Elias's family. The vice consul offered his condolences. Mr. Mansour, a member of the Egyptian community in Antwerp, said everyone was shocked by this unfortunate incident, which claimed the life of a young Arab Muslim immigrant. A young Moroccan man named Rachid said the young Tunisian man was the victim of the irresponsible actions of a person who had an altercation with a Belgian woman who was with her child at the scene of the incident. He added that the young Tunisian man died as a result of the treachery of the young African man who was carrying a large knife in his clothes. The Tunisian Association in Belgium said in a statement it distributed, "With deep sadness and sorrow, and in submission to God's will and destiny, we received the news of the death of the young Tunisian man from Kairouan Governorate. The Tunisian Community Association in Belgium, headquartered in Antwerp, on behalf of Halima Bouzian and Mr. Fathi Hammami, and on behalf of the entire Tunisian community in Belgium and Europe, offers its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased. We ask God to forgive him and grant him a place in His spacious gardens, and to inspire his family and loved ones with patience and solace." It was in the Belgian city of Antwerp when the deceased tried to save a Belgian woman and her son from a knife attack by a Somali immigrant living in the area. God's will be done. The young man who immigrated from Tunisia to Europe in search of a better life, security, and safety was stabbed to death. However, God decreed his death on Belgian soil, and he was unable to settle his legal status. He died before obtaining a humanitarian visa to fulfill his dreams. However, in this incident, he proved with merit what humanity means. A humanitarian visa is not worthy of as much as actions express it. He sacrificed himself to save a woman and her son, with whom he had no connection, only his good origins, character, and a vein of chivalry and manhood, defending a woman and child. He died a hero in our eyes, and in the eyes of the Belgian media. He died a martyr for humanity. May God have mercy on the deceased and grant him a place in heaven. The incident occurred last Sunday afternoon following an altercation between the Tunisian youth, Elias, and the African youth. The media reported that the latter was carrying a large knife that he stabbed into the victim's chest and said, Eyewitnesses said that the killer did not flee, but was walking normally, leaving the scene of the accident. Some Arab immigrants immediately called the police, while an Egyptian named Ashraf Abu Zeid was keen to teach the Tunisian youth the Shahada. After that, police cars and ambulances arrived, but he had already breathed his last, and attempts to save him in the hospital failed. Eyewitnesses said that the killer continued walking on his feet, and a Moroccan youth and another Tunisian followed him, and they tried to convince him to throw the knife on the ground, especially since the police were on the way. Indeed, two policemen arrived at the location of the African youth and asked him to throw the knife, get on his knees, and put his hands behind his head. He complied with the order, and he was arrested and subjected to investigation.