Protests Erupt in Brussels Over Police Violence Amid Calls for Accountability
Demonstrators demand justice for Sourour Abouda and 11-year-old Fabian as court delays decision on Abouda case.
BRUSSELS – On June 13, 2025, hundreds of people gathered outside the Palace of Justice in Brussels, protesting against police violence and calling for justice for two individuals: Sourour Abouda, who died in police custody in January 2023, and 11-year-old Fabian, who was fatally struck by a police car.
The protest coincided with a scheduled court decision regarding whether the Abouda case would proceed to trial.
The Brussels public prosecutor has accused officers from the Brussels Capital–Ixelles police of unintentional manslaughter related to Abouda's death.
However, the court session was postponed to allow for further investigations.
Both the police and Abouda's family are requesting access to additional evidence, including video recordings, autopsy details, and police documents they have yet to receive.
The protestors voiced their frustrations over alleged systemic police violence, specifically against marginalized groups such as people of color, undocumented migrants, asylum seekers, and the homeless.
Many demonstrators carried signs and chanted slogans linking the incidents in Belgium to a broader global context of police misconduct.
Activists highlighted that more than 90% of police-related deaths involve non-white individuals, suggesting a persistent issue of racial profiling and inadequate accountability measures.
The demonstration also drew attention to the case of Fabian, who was killed in Elisabeth Park in May 2025 when a police vehicle, engaged in a high-speed pursuit without lights or sirens, struck him.
His death marks him as the youngest fatality in a series of police-related incidents in Brussels, further amplifying demands for the cessation of high-speed police chases and a comprehensive review of police protocols in public areas.
Participants expressed concern that these tragic deaths indicate a pattern of violence and negligence that necessitates significant reforms in policing practices across the city.
The family of Sourour Abouda disputes the police's account of her death, claiming that she did not exhibit suicidal tendencies and expressing doubts about the circumstances surrounding her demise.
They criticize the police for what they perceive as inadequate surveillance and delayed intervention following her distress.
The ongoing discourse surrounding these events underscores a growing awareness and demand for increased transparency and oversight in policing in Belgium.
The protest coincided with a scheduled court decision regarding whether the Abouda case would proceed to trial.
The Brussels public prosecutor has accused officers from the Brussels Capital–Ixelles police of unintentional manslaughter related to Abouda's death.
However, the court session was postponed to allow for further investigations.
Both the police and Abouda's family are requesting access to additional evidence, including video recordings, autopsy details, and police documents they have yet to receive.
The protestors voiced their frustrations over alleged systemic police violence, specifically against marginalized groups such as people of color, undocumented migrants, asylum seekers, and the homeless.
Many demonstrators carried signs and chanted slogans linking the incidents in Belgium to a broader global context of police misconduct.
Activists highlighted that more than 90% of police-related deaths involve non-white individuals, suggesting a persistent issue of racial profiling and inadequate accountability measures.
The demonstration also drew attention to the case of Fabian, who was killed in Elisabeth Park in May 2025 when a police vehicle, engaged in a high-speed pursuit without lights or sirens, struck him.
His death marks him as the youngest fatality in a series of police-related incidents in Brussels, further amplifying demands for the cessation of high-speed police chases and a comprehensive review of police protocols in public areas.
Participants expressed concern that these tragic deaths indicate a pattern of violence and negligence that necessitates significant reforms in policing practices across the city.
The family of Sourour Abouda disputes the police's account of her death, claiming that she did not exhibit suicidal tendencies and expressing doubts about the circumstances surrounding her demise.
They criticize the police for what they perceive as inadequate surveillance and delayed intervention following her distress.
The ongoing discourse surrounding these events underscores a growing awareness and demand for increased transparency and oversight in policing in Belgium.
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