Between 5000 and 10 000 people went to the streets to pay him a last tribute. The crowd was so large that part of it could not enter the place of prayer. The police had to block the streets to secure the premises during the funeral prayer. In a statement, the professor’s wife and children asked to prioritize condolences at the mosque. After these moments of meditation, the body of Rachid Haddach was taken to the cemetery of Evere.

Rachid Haddach was a controversial personality who has been accused of proliferating salafist rhetoric. He was however very infuential and popular, especially amoung the Muslim minority of the Belgian capital.

Besides the ambivalent feelings one can have regarding this man, it is worth noticing that the streets of Molenbeek have literally been taken over by Muslim worshippers as it can be seen on videos recorded by the local television BX1.

Source: sudinfo.be

Image: lesobservateurs.ch