Königlich-Belgische Botschaft
Wohlebengasse 6
1040 Wien
Fax: 01/502 07 11
E-Mail:  ambabel.vienna@magnet.at


Your excellency, ambassador of Belgium, ladies and gentlemen !

As democratic thinking people and as responsible students of the universities of Vienna, Austria, this way we want to express our anxiety and we want to express protest.
Anxiety about the growing antiarabic and antimuslim racism in entire Europe and especially in Belgium and protest against the way the Belgium state and its institutions deal with this racism, how they are interspersed with it.
We especially express our protest against the ongoing and growing repression against our friends from the Arab-European-League and against the Arab and Muslim community.
The racist murder of Mohamed Achrak is a shame, not only for the Belgians, but also for us and for all europeans, and it has to be seen in a bigger frame:
In the frame of a important political conflict: On the one side the "white european civilisation" represented by the Vlaams Blok and by parts of the political establishment, the medias and the police, and on the other side the arab and muslim community, represented by the Arab-European-League, struggling for real democracy, for justice and a life in dignity, struggling against racism, not only in Belgium or in Europe, but in the entire world.
So it is a shame for us as europeans to see the actions against the Arab-European-League, the raids and the repression to be continued.

The court had to aquit the president of the Arab-European-League Mr. Dyab Abouh Jah Jah. We see this as a right and necessary decision, but how can we accept it as a real attempt to give respect to the Arab and Muslim community ? First the accuses had been to ridiculous, and the protest had been too strong. And second we now see that the oppression, the stiring up hatred and the hunting goes on, and the political interest in trying to make the Arab and Muslim community silent or conformist is too obviously.

So the government of Belgium and the responsible institutions have to chose:
Will they continue the dark side of belgian and european history: That of racism and colonial behaviour, will they go a way of hatred and oppression against the Arab and Muslim people, or will they take the other way, that is also part of the belgian history: The way of democracy, the search for global justice, the way of mutual respect.

As europeans we advise you to be ashamed because of the death of Mohamed Achrak !

As democratic thinking people we demand you to stop the repression against the Arab-European-League and the Arab and Muslim community !

As peace-wanting citizens of the European Community we want you not to give any support to the war against Iraq and against the Arab and Muslim world !

As open-minded students we want you to make a statement about the given developements and about the steps you can make towards mutual respect and elimination of racism, this awful and lasting illness we want to get rid off !

In hope to gain a hearing, and full of confidence in your democratic and just attitude

yours sincerly

Sedunia - Initiative for International Politics
Students of the Universities of Vienna

We will publish this note, and we would be pleased to publish your statement and answer as well.
Wien, Jänner 2003