Arabic Made Mandatory in Belgian School Program: A Wake-Up Call for Europe

Reprinted from Reitschuster.de 

In Germany, anyone who warns about the potential Islamization of society is quickly dismissed as a fearmonger or even a racist. The political and media landscape in this country is dominated by rhetoric that seeks to reassure us that there is no threat from the growing influence of Islam in Europe. However, a glance at neighboring Belgium reveals the truth: the danger is real, and it is escalating.

According to the Belgian news portal “Sudinfo,” a school in the Belgian city of Leuven has decided to make Arabic a mandatory subject in the sixth grade for all students enrolled in the “Modern Languages” program. This isn’t about teaching the language out of pure interest in linguistic diversity. No, the school’s director, Frank Baeyens, openly speaks of a “philosophical and cultural” opening of the students. The goal is to introduce children to a language that is entirely different in structure, script, and symbols. But that’s not the whole story.

Baeyens also emphasizes the social relevance of this decision. It is about providing role models for students who speak Arabic as their mother tongue, giving them someone they can identify with. In a city where the proportion of Muslim migrants is steadily growing, Arabic suddenly becomes a compulsory subject for students in a specific course of study. And this is being celebrated as progressive and open-minded. It seems only a matter of time before the supposedly “progressive” and “open-minded” individuals in Germany also embrace this idea, and this example spreads from Flensburg to Berchtesgaden. Already, Arabic is offered as an elective subject in schools in Germany and France – but only as an elective. The school in Leuven, however, has taken a step further towards making Arabic a compulsory subject.

Introducing Arabic as a mandatory subject in a specific educational branch may seem harmless at first glance, but it is a symptom of a more profound societal change. It is a step towards cultural adaptation that gradually normalizes Islamic culture. It attempts to integrate Islamic values and traditions into the education system to familiarize the next generation with these values from a young age.

In Germany, anyone who critically observes these developments and warns against them is immediately labeled as right-wing. However, the fear of creeping Islamization is not unfounded. The increasing presence of Islam in Europe, the growing number of mosques, the wearing of headscarves and burqas in public, and the demand for halal-compliant food in public institutions – all of these are signs of a societal transformation that cannot be ignored.

It is high time for us to be honest with ourselves. Opposing the trend of Islamization does not mean being against Islam or Muslims as a whole. It is about defending the Western values and traditions that have been fought for in Europe over centuries: equality between men and women, the separation of church and state, and the freedom of individuals to live as they see fit. These values stand in direct opposition to many aspects of Islamic culture, which is increasingly gaining influence in Europe.

The Belgian school’s decision to make Arabic a mandatory subject for the “Modern Languages” program is a wake-up call. It shows just how far the adaptation to Islamic culture has already progressed. It is time to open our eyes and recognize the reality before it is too late. The warnings about Islamization are not fantasies—they are a response to a development that could fundamentally change Europe.

We must ask ourselves: What kind of society do we want to live in? In a society that defends its Christian values and traditions – which are undoubtedly already under immense pressure – or in one that slowly adapts to a culture that, in many aspects, contradicts Western ideals? The decision lies with all of us – and it is a decision we should not take lightly.