Racism anniversary opening halal butcher shop in Brussels (video)
January 3, 2023 – 10:00 – World
©
For years, Assem Aldilaimi, entrepreneur and owner of the supermarket chain Baker Market, has been trying to open a halal butcher shop in Anderlecht, Belgium. One of his neighbors is against the opening of the store.
The municipality of Anderlecht has obtained Assem Aldilaimi all the necessary permits to open his butcher shop. However, he is still waiting for his neighbor’s permission. The entrepreneur does not understand this situation. “I’ve been done with this for five years: the display cases, the scales, the meat grinders. When meat comes, we can start,” he tells bx1.
Read also: Halal certification: agreement between Morocco and Saudi Arabia
Interruption must first resolve the conflict with the association of owners. It involves a vacant space that is viewed as a parking lot and is adjacent to the back entrance of the store. This small place should be set up as a delivery zone for the opening of the store. A resident of the building is against it and has been against the purchase process for at least years. “We have done everything to survive this place, but the manager of the building is against it. That is the heart of the matter,” complains the owner of the chain of halal butchers across Europe.
His neighbor’s reasons are purely racist. “This kind of business is not around and should not be opened, otherwise it will ruin the environment,” he said. At the municipality of Anderlecht, the mayor acknowledged that there was nothing wrong with the requested permits and that both parties should try to find a consensus. “It is not up to the municipality to settle the dispute. I have convinced myself that the person in question has all the necessary permits,” said Alain Kestemont, mayor of Anderlecht.
Read also: Brazil wants to conquer the Moroccan halal market
Assem Aldilaimi has already lost a lot of money. He no longer knows how to assert his rights and now relies on justice to find a solution.