The group shouted slogans such as “Victime on te croit, aggresseur on te voit.” (Victim, we believe you. Aggressor, we see you) Someone is wearing a pancarte: ‘Violeur, on va te couper ta bite’. (rapist, we’re going to take your lid off). They want an end to sexual abuse in Brussels cafes.

A bartender is said to have drugged and abused several women there. The facts will have been going on for years The court is investigating a number of rape allegations in those two notorious bars.

The movement has started over two young women recounting their traumatic experience on the Instagram page of ‘Féminisme Libertaire Bruxelles’. Afterwards, others also share horror stories of a night out in cocktail bar El Café van de Waff, both from the same owner, in the hip student neighborhood at the cemetery of Ixelles.

Plan for a safer nightlife

Ixelles mayor Christos Doulkeridis (Ecolo) has told Bruzz that he does not expect the owner of the cafes involved at the town hall this week, so that they can give their version of the facts. He awaits the judicial investigation before taking further (administrative) steps.

Doulkeridis also says he is working on a cafe plan for a safer nightlife. That plan was put on hold due to the corona crisis, but will ‘start at the beginning of 2022’. Cafés and clubs in the entertainment district will then be removed for a diagnosis. It will be carried out by women and women’s organizations, he adds.