First ever muslim expo kicks off in Brussels

The first ever Muslim fair was launched in the Belgian capital, of Brussels when the League of Belgian Muslims joined hands with a France-based commercial house, Gedis, to organize it . The 3-day fair opened here Friday evening, said Dr. Karim Chemlal, spokesman for the League of Belgian Muslims, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) adding that that fair aimed to show that “there is a need of the Muslim community here to be more visible in the society.” Secondly, he elaborated, there is a need to correct the image of Muslims and Islam in the minds of those people who are suspicious of everything linked with the Muslim community. “Our answer to this anti-Islam film is this expo about Islam, about our prophet and to explain Islam,” said Chemlal. He was referring to the anti-Islam film which was made in the US recently. The fair is divided into two parts , a business side and a cultural side including debates and talks. A large number of shops are selling dresses, perfumes, books and food and other items. Sheikh Saad Al-Brik from Saudi Arabia addressed the symposium Friday night, and the famous European Islamic thinker and writer Tareq Ramadan is expected to speak at the fair Saturday. A number of other Muslim thinkers and scholars are to speak on issues like Islamic finance, Islamic media, Islamic ethics and spirituality and on the life of the prophet.