Naïma Amzil is a Muslim lady who observes wearing the hijab and works at a food production company in the Flanders province of Belgium. The boss of the company she works at is Rik Remmery, who along with his family receives death threats from a racist terror gang, which demands him to dismiss Naïma Amzil as long as she remains determined to wear the hijab during work. In response, Naïma offered her resignation, but he totally rejected it while insisting to keep her and decided not to give in. Simultaneously, the support of the Flanders province locals for the manager's stance increased more and more, while one consumer organization tries to gather seventeen thousand signatures in support of Rik Remmery, the company manager. This was a summary of a news report mentioned in the Al Mujtama‘ periodical.

The eye-catching point of this incident is how the locals of Flanders province, who are estimated to be a population of six million, gathered in support of this Belgian manager's stance; to hold on to his Muslim employee and to acknowledge her right to wear the hijab.

That is not all, for there is still more to the incident which is, according to my opinion, bigger than belief. The king of Belgium, Albert II, received news about this incident. How did the king react? Did he turn a blind eye and leave the manager to deal with the matter of his Muslim employee alone, against the terror gang? Or did he decide to ignore the Muslim lady's problem, which would probably be of no concern to the Belgian society? Or did he consider it a weightless matter, assuming that it is nothing but a piece of cloth which some put over their heads and that its presence is no different than its absence?! No, actually instead the king took a noble and amazing stance towards this Muslim lady who observes wearing the hijab, for he expressed his support for the company manager and thus issued a royal statement which included that the king will receive Rik Remmery, head of the food production company, along with his employee Naïma Amzil. It also mentioned that: King Albert II is closely following up the latest developments of the incident. The meeting actually took place at the royal palace last January.

Most High Allah is! Five parties of a Catholic country hastened to show support for this ordinary Muslim employee, which are arranged according to importance:

1. The king.
2. The company manager.
3. Locals of Flanders province.
4. A consumer organization.
5. The association of business men, which addressed this manager, saying, "Perhaps your peaceful stance would become a symbol of tolerance in the Flanders province"

I wonder, if a religious Muslim lady would enjoy such support from her society and government in many Muslim countries or not. The population of king Albert's kingdom exceeds ten million people, and it is one of Europe's most industrialized nations, is a key state of the EU and is the living heart of Europe, knowing that its capital is Brussels which is home to the headquarters of several global organizations such as NATO. All that did not prevent this just king from seeing to the matter of a Muslim employee who observes wearing the hijab. He did not consider her to be narrow-minded or backwards, as some people are appealed to say. Rather, justice and freedom were the guidelines of his noble stance.

The king of Belgium's stance is very similar to that of Negus, king of Abyssinia, in regards to supporting the Muslims, fourteen centuries ago. The image today is very similar to that of yesterday; many tyrannical arrogant leaders inflict onto their subjects torture and humiliation, while many "neguses" support the Muslims thus they live freely on their land, obtain knowledge, strive and establish associations and organizations, and some even gain citizenship.

Greetings to Albert II, king of Belgium and greetings to all the "neguses" throughout the world.

Source: Al Mujtama‘ magazine