A tribute in remembrance of Jean Gol, a Jewish Liberal statesman in Belgium, was targeted amid a violent protest by pro-Palestinian activists yesterday. His grave was also desecrated.
A commemorative event at the University of Liège in Belgium marking the 30th anniversary of the death of Gol, a key figure in the centrist-liberalist Reformist Movement (MR) party, was disrupted by a hostile crowd.
Earlier in the day, just ahead of the event, protesters were suspected of defacing the tombstone of Gol, who died on September 18, 1995.
They daubed the grave, which features a star of David, in red letters with “Never Again” and “Hé Merde” (Oh Sh*t).
La tombe de Jean Gol profanée le jour des 30 ans de son décès. Y a t’il encore des mots pour définir une telle attitude ? Jamais nous ne devons laisser leur ignominie nous impressionner. J’ose espérer enfin un sursaut de nos opposants politiques face à cela. Je pense surtout aux… pic.twitter.com/SJbWu7GRwx
— Georges-L BOUCHEZ (@GLBouchez) September 18, 2025
“Are there even words to describe such behaviour?” asked President of the MR Georges-Louis Bouchez.
“We must never allow ourselves to be intimidated by their despicable acts. I hope that this will finally provoke a strong response from our political opponents.
“My thoughts are above all with his loved ones and family,” he said.
Déborah Gol, daughter of the late politician and who discovered the desecration of the tomb herself, told public service broadcaster RTBF she wanted to clean the grave in light of the remembrance event.
“It was still fresh, it had just happened,” she said. “It’s deeply unfair and it shocked me.”
She said she felt there was no doubt that the vandalism was inspired by the war in Gaza and the MR’s stance on it.
“When you write ‘never again’, it seems quite obvious to me. This is an unacceptable amalgam. My father’s positions on Gaza were not at all radical. He worked a lot to bring Israelis and Palestinians closer together and so I think it’s an odious amalgam,” Ms Gol said.
She filed a complaint with the police, as did the city of Liege, whose services cleaned the tombstone today.
The Belgian Royal Palace also reacted on the desecration, saying “30 years after his death, grave of former minister of state Jean Gol was vandalised today.
“The King called his daughter to express his indignation about this reprehensible act and to offer her his support. Anti-Semitism and hatred are unacceptable,” it stated on social media.
Prime Minister Bart De Wever condemned the vandalism in the parliament yesterday. “There is nothing more dishonourable and despicable than to desecrate a grave,” he said.
Other party leaders also condemned the vandalism.
🚨 Aujourd’hui, des militants du @MR_officiel ont été agressés physiquement, insultés et même victimes de crachats par des extrémistes de gauche, alors qu’ils se rendaient à l’Université de Liège pour rendre hommage à Jean Gol, à l’occasion des 30 ans de son décès.
Soutien total… pic.twitter.com/ZYRpcpaxLF
— Lucas Ablotia (@AblotiaLucas) September 18, 2025
The event itself, organised by the Centre Jean Gol, a think-tank affiliated with the MR, drew hundreds of attendees, including party members, elected officials and supporters.
Around 400 protesters blocked streets in Liège, forcing Bouchez to enter the university premises through a side entrance.
Members of his party were reportedly insulted, spat at, had objects thrown at them, obscenities and some were physically assaulted.
A large police presence in riot gear was also needed to protect them. Twelve police officers were injured, including five seriously. No arrests were made.
“This is simply unacceptable in a democracy. They cannot respond to us with arguments, so they resort to violence,” Bouchez said.
“I would like to say to this anti-democratic Left that they do not impress us. We will not be silenced.
“We will hold even more conferences, more debates, increase our presence, and every day we will be a little more proud to be liberals.”
« La gauche a le monopole de la violence politique. »
Tous les jours, de nouveaux faits donnent raison à @GLBouchez. https://t.co/fJpCPVM9OA pic.twitter.com/ZAndraLCUs
— Roger The Shame 🦇 (@RogerTheShame) September 18, 2025
He accused the Left of holding a “monopoly on violence” and criticised his political opponents for what he said was their failure to respond adequately to the attack on him and his party.
“When the Left is not in power, it creates disorder in the streets and in society,” he said.
One female from the party’s youth division said her jacket had been tagged with a swastika.
Interior minister Bernard Quintin (MR) also described the events as “an insult to democracy”.
