Far right in Belgium

It was sad to see and frightening that their numbers are increasing , so hypocritical to use a mourning vigil to vomit hate

Really bad. But no surprise. A sudden increase in migration always results in this.

Has Belgium had a sudden increase in immigration?

Not at all surprised.

Belgium has had a very active nationalistic element for over 100 years - nothing to do with immigration. Belgium doesn't readily admit it, but the Belgian Flemish nationalists collaborated with the Nazis during WW2. They used to be strongly anti-Semitic, but have turned their anger on Muslim immigrants in recent years, even though most immigrants to Belgium are EU citizens, often working for the EU in Brussels.

It sounds more like the yobs were looking for an opportunity for a punch-up. Why would they disrupt a vigil attended by people of all faiths wishing to express their grief? There is no excuse whatsoever. They're yobs and the Belgian police should have arrested them.

It was sadly quite predictable. Right wing extremism is abhorrent and yet becoming more prevalent. I'm not sure what the answer to this is.

I'm not so sure it was predictable. I certainly don't agree that immigration necessarily has to lead to a rise in right-wing extremism. In the case of Belgium, there is a large immigrant population, but most of them are EU citizens working for the EU. Belgium has always had a mobile population. There are people who support an all-white Europe, but I don't think these thugs even have the intelligence to understand the philosophy behind white supremacy.

I agree with you that right wing extremism is abhorrent and has, unfortunately, been with us for centuries. I don't understand the psychology of the thicko thugs, but I'm trying.

The only answer I have is to stand by my own values.

Its interesting that people don't seem to mind people from Chinese /Philippino/Vietnamese communities settling in their countries but there's something about the Islamic people that gives rise to such discomfort. What's that about? Their perceived increased likelihood of trying to make us change our ways or reduced likelihood of their assimilating to our ways? Just wondering after hearing about the large Chinese communities that seem to be tolerated in a way that some others don't seem to be.

A very interesting point * Jane10*

Chinatown areas in cities are often top tourist spots yet Chinese communities are often close and maintain their language/s and are not fully integrated, something many Asian communities have been denigrated for.

Is it because Far East were not colonised by the West? Do we have some kind of 'power & control' issue when communities that we once overran come to the UK/West?

I always raise the point of white Western immigration too... South African /NZ and Australian immigrants also take up jobs, places in schools/GP surgeries etc etc but we tend not to lose sleep over that!

I am NOT saying we should not have immigration from certain places just commenting that we are choosy about which immigrants we tolerate and which we do not but theimpact on resources is the same.

Is there something about middle eastern as opposed to far eastern countries. Sharia law is an issue I suppose and/or the various atrocities carried out in those countries. SA/NZ were populated by people like us in the past. They could be seen as coming 'home' although most only seem to be here for a short time with a clear intention of going back to Oz and NZ. No answers re perceived sinisterness of middle eastern people.

Yes Belgium has had a sudden increase in immigration.

Which results in the rise of extremism.

Because of hate, distrust, not understanding much about thier way of life, and depletion of national resources, often directly affecting themselves.

I find it incredulous that celebrities try and join in to ask for more, when they are the last people it would affect.

It is those at the bottom of society that have the most to lose. By far.

Brexit I think will happen. A large increase in migration causes people to think these things, even if they dont voice it publically. Beware of the silence about this subject.

It was pretty obvious that far right thugs would attend any gathering in the Square, and police had asked everybody to stay away , and that means everyone! Quite apart from the possibility of a right old rumble happening there, it would have made a great opportunity for any suicide bomber to kill a large number of people. So what did people do? They turned up in large numbers.

roses 'It was pretty obvious that far right thugs would attend any gathering in the Square'

There are many far right thugs in France aka Front National but they have never done what these neo Nazis did yesterday in Brussels.

Meanwhile the 'sainted' and profoundly ignorant Katie Hopkins believes it is all the fault of the left! www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3511654/KATIE-HOPKINS-real-threat-not-far-right-s-smug-left-did-acceptable-water-cannon-people-standing-country-turning-blind-eye-destruction-Europe.html

Jane10 'people like us' ..I am part Middle Eastern. Just saying

Lucy there are plenty of far right thugs in Belgium.The authorities there feared a clash so went prepared.If I lived there I would have kept myself and family well away from that square.The police could then have rounded up these fascists and sent them on their way, but with so many others milling about , something bad would have happened, either a free for all or possibly a suicide bomber blowing himself up.Fortunately the police decided to act and use water cannon.

It was not anybody's fault except the fascists, Katie Hopkins says anything that is contentious just for more readers.
If the police had asked ( in this country) for people not to gather in the square , they would no doubt have defied that ,but me and my family would not have been there.what an opportunity for the bombers to target a huge group.

Penstemmon sorry. I was theorising. Trying to work out why we -ie British/European people -seem to feel more uncomfortable with people of middle eastern origin than those of far east or Australasian origin. I don't know why. Was just noting it.

I understand Jane10 no offence taken just raising the point that we .may not all be 100 white European

A bunch of violent, racist, intolerant thugs, flexing their muscles and making an overt show to warn the other faction of muderous, fascist, religious maniacs. Unfortunately the peaceful people were caught up in the milieu. Tribalism!

A sickening sight.

Is there something about the lack of respect for women leading to the lack of the sort of feminising influence that might make them think hard about killing and maiming innocent people?

obieone, Do you have any reliable statistics to support a significant rise in Belgian immigration? I've had a look and can't find anything (not saying you're wrong).

Wiki writes 'The largest group of immigrants and their descendants in Belgium are Italians, with more than 450,000 people, which is well over 4% of Belgium's total population. The Moroccans are the third-largest group, and the largest Muslim ethnic group, numbering 220,000.'

I know Belgium does have a large number of immigrants, but at least half of them are from the EU and many are temporary.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Belgium states that 25% of the population of Brussels is Muslim, but I can't find any evidence that there has been a sudden rise.

That still doesn't explain why right-wing thugs should target a vigil by ordinary Belgians, presumably of mixed faiths.

Roses my point was that there are many right wing thugs in France but they did not take advantage of the terrorist killings either after Charlie Hebdon or the Bataclan atrocities.

We attended marches and demos last year here in Paris, which were attended by families of all faiths and nationalities proud to sing Le Marseillais. Belgians should be allowed to do the same and not feel that the terrorists have won.

Why Belgian right wing thugs should do so is beyond me. However I do think that the Belgian authorities have a lot to answer for in that the (Belgian and French born)* terrorists were holed up in Brussels for months since the atrocities committed in Paris last November.

Therefore NOT immigrants.

Oh, I see what you mean Lucy do you live in France?
I don't think the Belgian police are as on the ball as here, perhaps we are more used to dealing with terrorists than they are.