Anti-Islamist protesters are crying foul after the mayor of Brussels banned a demonstration due to attract some 20,000 protesters. Organisers denounced as 'anti-democratic' the arrest of dozens of demonstrators who went out to the streets in spite of the ban. Police also detained the leaders of Belgium's far-right Vlaams Belang party, Filip Dewinter and Frank Vanhecke.
"Of course we're disappointed by the turn-out but it's all the fault of the authorities. The Mayor had no right to stop us. And there were even terror threats against the march, so it's no wonder people stayed home. But we're here to remind everyone that six years ago today, on 9/11, Islam declared war on the Western world."
Chaos
Freddy Thielemans, Brussels' Socialist Mayor, declared the protest illegal last week, fearing it would lead to violent clashes with the city's 'substantial' foreign community.
"We were worried about chaos and security threats. As soon as you get a blanket movement like this that puts everyone under the same label, you risk triggering a backlash."
The protest was organised by Stop the Islamisation of Europe (SIOE), a newly-founded organisation which seeks to regroup all other similar movements in Europe.
Gerard Nash, one of SIOE'ds founders:
"The fact that the Mayor banned us just illustrates our point. If people are against us, they could have organised a peaceful protest to say so, that's how we do things in Europe."
Split
However, the Brussels ban has triggered a split in the group. Ulk Ulfkotte, a security expert and academic, helped promote the march originally but then stayed away because he said it would attract right-wing extremists. Mr Ulfkotte says he is seeking a more constructive dialogue on Islam in Europe.
"He's a traitor," shouted one demonstrator. "What's right-wing? Is it right-wing to stone a woman? We're here to take a stand against that."
A young woman in a headscarf looked on as police bundled up protesters. Nathalie Preudhomme remarked:
"I am happy that the police is out in force here, it's proof that we live in a democracy. The people here have no coherent argument, they're extremists who mix all their ideas and ideologies."
However, SIOE says it is undeterred by the failure of Tuesday's march and says it plans to organise legal protests in France and Great Britain shortly.
Tags: backlash, ban, Brussels, EU, illegal, Islamisation, march, Mayor, protesters, right-wing, terrorist