One of the founders of the Belgian Islamist party Partij Islam has been fired by his regular employer after he said he wanted Belgium to become an Islamic state.
Anderlecht municipal councillor Redouane Ahrouch, who also serves as the treasurer for the Partij Islam, was fired by the Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (STIB) earlier this week after the Islamist politician made “remarks in contradiction with the values of the company”, Belgian radio broadcaster RTL reports.
STIB spokeswoman Françoise Ledune said one of the reasons for his dismissal was that Ahrouch identified himself as working as a bus driver which the company felt could lead to confusion that it endorsed his statements.
“During an interview on Wednesday morning, the management signified his dismissal on the grounds that the remarks he made are in contradiction with the values of the company,” Ledune said.
Last month Ahrouch announced that not only was the Partij Islam looking to run candidates in 28 different municipalities in the upcoming local elections, but also noted: “Our goal is a one hundred percent Islamic state.”
As part of the announcement, Ahrouch also mentioned the transit system, saying that he would solve sexual harassment against women by having men and women use gender-segregated buses.
The firing comes shortly after Ahrouch was heavily criticised for his behaviour on a television panel programme in which he refused to shake hands with women or even look them in the eye when they spoke to him.
When asked why he would not shake a female journalist’s hand, he said: “Is there a law that requires someone to shake hands? I do not think so? I have respect, but that does not mean that I have to touch someone.”
Islamist and migrant-centred political parties have sprung up across Europe in recent years with the Dutch party Denk even managing to win seats in last year’s national elections.
In Sweden, some Muslims also attempted to create an Islamist party named Jasin but the Swedish electoral authorities denied the party ballot access after accusations that it had been taken over by radical Islamic extremists.