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Anderlecht scandal: Councilor denounces "potentially unhealthy climate" and "targeted mechanism to silence her"
🇧🇪 Belgium /Environment & Climate

Anderlecht scandal: Councilor denounces "potentially unhealthy climate" and "targeted mechanism to silence her"

From La Libre Belgique · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A local councilor in Anderlecht, Belgium, has accused the mayor and communal college of creating a toxic environment and a targeted campaign to silence her.
  • The councilor alleges that the president of the Foyer anderlechtois, Lotfi Mostefa, made threatening remarks and that she and her collaborator have received intimidating messages on social media.
  • The situation has escalated with the councilor reporting suspicious individuals near her home and seeking legal counsel, highlighting a deep crisis within the local majority coalition.

A Belgian councilor has denounced a "grave and now intolerable" deterioration of the climate surrounding her and her collaborator, alleging a targeted campaign to silence her. Halina Benmrah, an alderman for economic development, mobility, and equal opportunities in Anderlecht, detailed a series of events in an official letter to the mayor and communal college.

a grave and now intolerable degradation of the climate that surrounds her

— Halina BenmrahThe alderman described the deteriorating situation in an official letter.

Benmrah specifically cited recent incidents involving Lotfi Mostefa, president of the Foyer anderlechtois, who allegedly made "unworthy threatening remarks" during a meeting, including a desire to "release files." This comes amid revelations of clientelism, political interference, and favoritism in the management of public assets, which led to searches at the Foyer anderlechtois and of its president.

release files

— Lotfi MostefaThe alderman reported that Mostefa made threatening remarks during a meeting.

The alderman also reported receiving targeted intimidation messages on social media, aimed at discrediting her and labeling her as the source of recent press leaks. She described these actions as an "organized challenge" to isolate, weaken, and silence her. The situation took a more alarming turn as Benmrah reported feeling increasingly insecure, noting suspicious individuals near her home at night.

organized challenge

— Halina BenmrahThe alderman described the campaign against her.

Given what she termed "immediate violence" posing a "serious risk to the integrity of individuals," Benmrah has officially requested security guarantees for future meetings. The crisis within Anderlecht's local majority coalition, which includes the PS, MR, and Engagés parties, appears to be at a peak, with Benmrah having mandated her lawyers to explore legal avenues.

immediate violence

— Halina BenmrahThe alderman described the threats to her personal safety.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Libre Belgique in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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