# Integration and Community Dynamics in Brussels - Original post: https://www.twitter.com/i/status/2118595686140694965 - Source account: [@FranceSouvUnie](https://x.com/FranceSouvUnie) - Source language: French - Target language: English - Duration: 3:16 - Published: 2026-11-06 - Machine translated. Check the original before quoting. - Canonical URL: https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels ## Transcript [0:00](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels) Otherwise, I get along well with them. I managed to fit in with the Muslims in my neighborhood. All right. [0:05](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=5) If you can call fitting in with the Muslims fitting in. [0:08](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=8) I didn't say the opposite. That is quite a crazy thing to say, when you think about it. [0:12](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=12) So you won't force Muslims to sort their trash. [0:16](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=16) They'll never do it. I want to get fined if I don't do it, but they don't. [0:21](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=21) But anyway, they're very kind to me. I have a lot of these people who run shops around here. [0:27](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=27) I get along excellently with them. So there you go, I managed to fit in well. [0:31](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=31) They accept me, they're very kind to me, so there's no problem. [0:35](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=35) But as for saying that, in absolute terms, there's no problem, I wouldn't dare risk saying that. [0:40](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=40) Because you, you are, you're Belgian. Yes. [0:42](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=42) By birth, you are— Yes. Your parents are Belgian, they're here. [0:45](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=45) And you're the one who has to integrate. [0:47](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=47) Listen, since they're the strongest and the most numerous. [0:50](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=50) Well, I don't want to move, I don't want to change neighborhoods. [0:53](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=53) I'm getting older, and they're kind to me. [0:55](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=55) There's no reason for me to start criticizing them, tearing them down, pushing them away. [1:00](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=60) Oh, I'm sorry. No. Besides, I've done development cooperation. [1:03](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=63) I'm not racist, you know. Oh, yes. So there you go. [1:06](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=66) I, I didn't suspect you of being racist. [1:08](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=68) No, but what bothers me is still certain aspects of this religion. [1:12](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=72) That, yes, that is… The absolute refusal to stun an animal before slitting its throat. [1:18](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=78) That, for me, I— I can't eat halal anymore, I'm sorry. [1:20](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=80) As for halal butcher shops, for example, do you have a choice here in the neighborhood? No, absolutely not. [1:25](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=85) No, if I don't want to eat halal, I have to go all the way to the Bourse. Oh, yes. [1:28](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=88) And that's what bothers me. Yes. So, go to Oki, in a department store. [1:31](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=91) But otherwise, I have to go all the way to the Bourse. [1:34](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=94) During Eid, you should see the neighborhood here when it's Eid. [1:37](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=97) Even the hairdressers during Eid, it's deserted. [1:40](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=100) You can ride around on a dromedary, no problem, it's completely deserted. Incredible. [1:44](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=104) And that's what becomes a little awkward. [1:46](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=106) It's that it's a— It's the city, you know, the city that allowed too many people to settle here. [1:52](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=112) Muslims and gay people, it doesn't work. [1:54](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=114) So, if you take a left here uh, Richeler Street, then go a little farther to the right, you're fine. [2:00](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=120) Because this is the gay neighborhood and Muslims don't want to hear about it. [2:03](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=123) Well, at least some Muslims. No, Brussels isn't all like that. [2:06](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=126) That's not true. Okay. No, there are neighborhoods that are protected, you know. Okay. [2:10](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=130) It's really funny because you meet lots of Muslims here. [2:14](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=134) And there's a street here that leads to the gay neighborhood. [2:17](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=137) Besides, there are two, two clubs there. [2:19](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=139) Well, when I have to go home at night because I was at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, I— The bus drops me off there, so I deliberately take this street because here I feel safe because there are gay people. [2:30](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=150) Oh, yes. And once I get here, I get scared. [2:32](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=152) So you saw the city of Brussels evolve. I was born in this neighborhood. [2:37](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=157) I was born on the street over there. So, when you were little... [2:40](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=160) There were the, the Spanish first. And we played with them in the street. [2:46](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=166) No, first the Italians who came to work in the mines. Then there were the Spanish. [2:51](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=171) And then the first Moroccans came to work underground to dig the metro here, just before Expo 58. [2:58](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=178) Right. Well, those people didn't cause any problems. [3:01](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=181) And then the young people arrived, along with the shopkeepers. [3:03](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=183) That's when the very Muslim side started to take hold, with, in particular, this mosque which was paid for by Saudi Arabia. [3:13](https://preview.translate.mom/transcript/CaBJMMXbxvTE/transcript-of-integration-and-community-dynamics-in-brussels?t=193) Now, it was taken over by Belgium, you know.