The key facts

  • Building P1 on the ULB Solbosch campus had been occupied by students since 22 October; the eviction took place on 7 November under a court order
  • Rector Annemie Schaus reported failed negotiations and the start of a judicial procedure; the protesters said activists had been arrested
  • The building was renamed by the occupiers in honor of Aicha Aboubai, a student from Gaza who, according to reports, was refused a Belgian visa

Eviction after two weeks of occupation

On 7 November, Belgian police cleared building P1 on the Solbosch campus of the Free University of Brussels (ULB), which had been occupied by students since 22 October, Anadolu reports, citing the Belgian agency Belga. The action involved university and secondary school students, including pupils from art schools; they positioned themselves as part of a broader European youth movement against deteriorating social conditions.

The rectorate's position and the protesters' reaction

University rector Annemie Schaus stated that most of the protesters complied with the ultimatum presented to them and left the building by Thursday, but some remained. According to her, 'fundamental boundaries were crossed': she cited vandalism, unauthorized entry into offices and disruption of the university's work, and also condemned offensive graffiti and direct calls to violence that she said had been found. 'After our attempts at negotiation failed, we began a judicial procedure,' Schaus said, adding that the police acted under a court order. The protesters themselves confirmed the eviction on social media and said that several activists had been arrested during the operation; the report contains no independent confirmation of the arrests.

Symbolism and restoration of the building

During the occupation, the protesters renamed the building in honor of Aicha Aboubai, a student from Gaza who, according to reports, was refused a Belgian visa. The university said it was preparing measures to secure and restore the building in order to resume academic activities. The report does not say anything about the fate of the detainees or possible legal consequences for the protest participants.