By Lahcen Hammouch
*1. Almouwatin now not exists: an apparent manipulation
Firstly, it’s important to level out that Almouwatin was closed for good in 2019, and that Bruxelles Média was based below a totally new framework. The truth that Blast chooses to combine the 2 entities demonstrates a blatant lack of professionalism and a deliberate need to sow confusion. Our places of work are situated on the Cité des Associations in Brussels, we’re in full compliance with our authorized obligations, and acknowledged by the Belgian CSA (Supreme Council of Audiovisual).
*2. A clear and constructive collaboration
Our relationship with Eddy Van Ryne is that of a pleasant, skilled collaboration. Blast tries to painting our work as suspect, whereas we work collectively to advertise initiatives for inter-religious dialogue and peace. My abilities are acknowledged and my dedication to constructive initiatives can’t be known as into query by malicious insinuations.
*3. Confirmed independence
Bruxelles Média operates with out public subsidies and has by no means sought any. We focus on organizing constructive occasions and debates. Blast’s insinuations are usually not solely unfounded, they’re a part of a method of intimidation typical of media dropping credibility.
*4. Malicious confusion with Le Matin.ma
The allegations of a hyperlink with Le Matin.ma are based mostly on a technical misunderstanding. Our webmaster has clarified that this was a easy error, and never a connivance with a Moroccan media outlet. Blast’s continued insistence on this level demonstrates its incapacity to conduct a rigorous and sincere investigation.
*5. Interfaith dialogue: a straightforward goal
My collaboration with spiritual establishments and actors, be it the Church of Scientology, but in addition with Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Catholics, Protestants and even humanists, is a part of a framework of inter-religious dialogue, and never a part of any promotion of sectarianism. This willingness to scale back my efforts to accusations of complicity is a mirrored image of Blast’s ignorance and contempt for the work of those that genuinely search to advertise dialogue and peace.
*6. Blast: a corrupt media on the verge of decline
It’s ironic that Blast, which claims to uphold moral values, is itself on the coronary heart of controversies regarding its independence and doubtful practices. Suspected hyperlinks with traders from the United Arab Emirates elevate questions on their objectivity. Certainly, the newspaper “Libération” lately accused Blast of being financed by traders from the United Arab Emirates, elevating questions in regards to the transparency of their operations. Additionally it is price noting that Blast is going through greater than 40 complaints for deceptive and defamatory investigations, testifying to its incapacity to provide high quality journalism.
Blast can also be the newspaper which, on October 7 2024, because the world commemorates the harmless Jewish victims killed by Hamas in Israel, publishes an interview with Michèle Siboni during which she declares that “the Jews who died on October 7, and all those that adopted, are the victims of a colonial regime”, and that the Hamas assassins are waging nothing apart from a “warfare of liberation of an oppressed folks”. To justify itself, Blast can consider nothing higher than to invoke a priority for “rationality and freedom”. Actually, my work for peace, significantly between Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Muslims, is not going to discover favor within the eyes of a media affected by such unabashed anti-Semitism.
Actually, by publishing their article in the present day, on the eve of the municipal elections, they’re hoping to affect the vote, maybe financed by backers who would favor to not see actors for peace and dialogue elected. One other ironic place of Blast which states that politics and journalism typically don’t combine.
In conclusion, I strongly condemn Blast’s assaults, which don’t have any different goal than to sully my status and that of Bruxelles Média. We’ll proceed to work for peace and dialogue, regardless of the makes an attempt to denigrate a media that’s dropping floor.
Lahcen Hammouch