Hateful Stickers in Molenbeek Near RWDM Stadium Raise Concerns
Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (Eurotoday) –
Hateful stickers with racist messages have appeared in Molenbeek, Brussels, near RWDM’s stadium. Local resident Ahmed El Khannouss has raised concerns. RWDM has condemned the acts, and the police are investigating, though no one has been caught yet.
In Molenbeek, a district of Brussels, residents have become increasingly alarmed as lampposts continue to be covered with stickers bearing hateful messages. One sticker reads “No Islam in Europe,” directly targeting Muslim communities. Another bears the words “White Boys” alongside a symbol associated with hate groups.
Authorities indicate that the stickers seem to reference the local football club, Racing White Daring Molenbeek (RWDM). Ahmed El Khannouss, a community member, has previously witnessed racist behavior among the team’s supporters. He is frustrated by the repeated appearance of these stickers, which suggests a deliberate effort to spread hate.
“But someone is systematically sticking new stickers,”
said Ahmed El Khannouss.
Who is Behind the Hateful Stickers in Molenbeek Near RWDM?
The RWDM football club has strongly condemned these stickers, emphasizing that they normalize hate speech, which could potentially lead to violence. The club is determined to identify those responsible and take action. RWDM insists that this does not represent a widespread issue among its supporters and maintains that its fanbase is not linked to far-right ideologies.
According to the team’s spokesperson, there is no tolerance for racism, sexism, or discrimination at RWDM matches. While individual fans may hold personal views, they do not express them at the stadium. The club enforces a strict policy against political displays during games. However, some critics argue that the presence of racist stickers and past incidents involving RWDM fans indicate that discrimination could be a larger issue.
Police have been monitoring the situation closely since similar incidents occurred in April and May of last year. A specialized unit that deals with football-related disruptions has documented the spread of these stickers around the RWDM stadium and other locations. However, authorities have yet to catch anyone in the act.
“We didn’t catch anyone red-handed, but a report was drawn up and forwarded to the public prosecutor’s office,”
stated the local police.
“It is now up to the prosecutor to decide on further steps.”
RWDM has had previous incidents involving some of its fans displaying racist behavior. In 2022, supporters of rival club Beerschot VA directed racist remarks at RWDM fans during a match. Additionally, some RWDM fans have reportedly threatened their own players, demanding they show greater respect for the neighborhood.
In 2016, authorities prevented the far-right group Génération Identitaire from holding a march in Molenbeek. Similarly, in 2022, certain politicians with extremist views were barred from visiting the area to prevent potential unrest.
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