A 2015 Photo of Belgian Police Blocking a Street Is Resurfacing Online
The Claim
A photo depicts Belgian Federal Police blocking a street in front of pedestrians and cars so that Muslims can pray during the month of Ramadan.
News posted on
Emerging story
A photo purportedly of Belgian Federal police blocking the street in front of passers-by and cars so that Muslims can pray during Ramadan month has gone viral on social media.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating photo and found it to be misleading, as it was taken in June 2015. It depicts dozens of Muslims being forced to perform Friday prayers on Harbert Blewitt Street in Brussels, Belgium, due to overcrowding at the Al-Inaba mosque, which caused Belgian police to close the street.
A dispute between the Al-Inaba mosque's owners delayed the mosque's expansion project, forcing worshipers to pray in the street before the mosque was relocated to the Zelik Bridge area in October 2016.
Translated by Wesam Abo Marq
