Yabiladi reported on Thursday the case of Chafik H. the 38 year-old man of Moroccan descent who set himself ablaze in front of a Belgian courthouse in Kortrijk because he was «tired of racism». The Ministry in charge of Moroccans living abroad has reacted to Chafik's story. In a communiqué reported by the MAP news agency, the department presided by Abdelkarim Benatiq declared that : «The necessary measures have been taken concerning the case of the Moroccan who set himself onfire in front of a Belgian courthouse.» The Ministry has collaborated with the Moroccan embassy in Brussels and the Consulate General of Morocco in Antwerp in order to call the Belgian authorities to investigate the causes of the incident and preserve the rights of Moroccans living abroad. «The Ministry has been informed that the incident follows the problems the Moroccan had with the Belgian labor inspection services», indicates a communiqué released by the Ministry. The Consulate General of Morocco in Antwerp visited Chafik at the hospital where he is staying. On Thursday, Belgian newspaper Het Nieusblad reported that a Moroccan poured gasoline over his body and set himself ablaze in front of a courthouse in the city of Kortrijk. In a video published on social media, the man explained the motives behind his attempted suicide. Under the name of Kapsalon Chafik (Chafik the Hairdresser), the man claimed that he was «tired of racism» like other Moroccans who live in the city of Kortrijk.
