Sammy Mahdi Slams N-VA and MR Over 13 Palestinian Students

CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi has strongly criticized the N-VA and MR for blocking the arrival of 13 Palestinian students and researchers who have been offered scholarships to study or conduct research at Belgian universities.

The 13 students are currently waiting for a decision from the federal government. Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot of Les Engagés is handling the case, but the government needs unanimous support before the students can be brought to Belgium.

So far, that support has not been reached because the N-VA and MR oppose the plan.

Mahdi called the situation “totally shameful” during the television program De Afspraak op Vrijdag.

“There are problems with illegal migration that should be solved. I simply do not understand why people are focusing so heavily on a case involving 13 young people who would legally come here to study, and why they are being stopped,” Mahdi said.

He also warned that time is becoming a serious issue for the students.

“Meanwhile, time is working in favor of the parties that oppose the plan,” Mahdi said. “If these students are still waiting for a decision from the federal government in a few weeks, the academic year will already be underway. They will then face serious problems.”

Mahdi also suggested that the N-VA and MR are aware of the consequences of delaying the decision.

The federal government has so far failed to reach an agreement on allowing the 13 Palestinian students and researchers to come to Belgium. According to Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, the government has not been able to reach the unanimous decision required for their arrival.