Death threats force senator into hiding, police protection

17 November 2004

BRUSSELS – A female Belgian senator has been forced into hiding after receiving death threats, it was reported on Wednesday.

Mimount Bousakla, who is of Moroccan origin and is a senator from Antwerp, was advised by police to take refuge at a secret address after receiving the threats by telephone, several Flemish newspapers reported.

An anonymous caller said he would execute the senator “ritually”, the reports continued.

Since last weekend Bousakla has not been seen publicly or in the Senate without protection.

But the senator is not new to the threats, having received them written and by phone for the past two years.

The number of threats is reported to have risen again recently, prompting her to alert the authorities.

Neither the victim nor the police have been able to identify the person carrying out the threats.

Subject: Belgian news