A Turkish man was severely beaten by a racist mob in Belgium for supporting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reports said Monday.
The incident reportedly took place in Neerpelt municipality, when a Turkish man identified as Ali Fakıoğlu was intercepted by a mob after closing his restaurant at night, Ihlas News Agency reported.
Fakıoğlu said that the mob, whose members were wearing clothes with racist symbols, asked him if he likes Erdoğan, then started beating him.
He received stitches on his head and face as a result of the attack, reports said.
There are around 200,000 Turkish people living in Belgium.
Attacks against migrants throughout Europe have increased in the past few years, while more lawmakers support anti-migrant rhetoric.
Belgian lawmakers called for an end to the dual nationality practice after Turkey's unofficial constitutional reform referendum results revealed that 75 percent of the Turkish citizens voted in favor of it. Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V) lawmaker Hendrik Bogaert called for the abolishment of dual citizenship and said, "We cannot say that nothing has happened. Such dual nationality is not conducive to integration. One is eventually more engaged in foreign than in Belgian politics.
Turkey also criticizes Belgium for allowing the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) and the PKK terrorist organization to freely carry out activities.
