 newspaper reported on Thursday.){kind=link}
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s attendance at an iftar dinner in Antwerp organized by an association with ties to the Gülen movement, a faith-based group outlawed by Ankara, has triggered an angry reaction from the Turkish government, the Belgian Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) newspaper reported on Thursday.
The iftar, which took place on March 11 and was sponsored by the Belgium-based Turkish association Fedactio, aimed to celebrate the first fast-breaking of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan with hundreds of Muslims and non-Muslims.
De Croo attended the iftar at the Hilton Old Town Hotel along with other high-profile figures, including Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt and several members of the Belgian and European parliaments. De Croo praised the event, which was attended by some 400 guests from various walks of life, for promoting dialogue and understanding between people of different cultures and faiths.
In his speech De Croo highlighted the importance of initiatives such as the IftarMee project, which brings people of different cultures together to share a meal, describing it as essential for the progress of society. He praised Fedactio for its efforts to promote social peace and dialogue, especially in times of conflict and polarization.
However, the Belgian prime minister’s participation in an event organized by Fedactio, an umbrella organization with ties to the Gülen movement, a faith-based group that focuses on science education, volunteerism, community involvement, social work and interfaith and intercultural dialogue and is inspired by the teachings of Muslim preacher Fethullah Gülen, has caused a stir in Turkey.
The Gülen movement is accused by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government of masterminding a failed coup in 2016. Gülen denies the allegation; however, a crackdown launched by Erdoğan saw tens of thousands jailed and over half a million prosecuted.
Turkish media reported on De Croo’s presence at the iftar, which led to the Belgian ambassador to Turkey being summoned by the foreign ministry and asked to make a statement. De Croo’s spokesman told Belgian media that the prime minister’s attendance was by invitation and had no political intentions.
The Fedactio event was noteworthy not only for its high-profile attendance but also for the message of peace and unity it conveyed. İbrahim Anaz, the president of Fedactio, emphasized the organization’s long-standing commitment to social harmony and human rights, especially in times of increasing polarization and populism.
The event also included a minute of silence for the thousands of people unjustly imprisoned in Turkey without a fair trial and drew attention to the ongoing human rights problems.