The Belgian Muslim Executive Body (EMB) elected a new President during a meeting on Friday evening, RTBF said on their website.
Mehmet Ustun, the head of the Sultan Ahmet mosque in Heusden-Zolder (Limburg), is taking over from Salah Echallaoui.
Mr Echallaoui became President in 2016. He will remain involved in the organisation, as the institution’s French-speaking Vice-President. Bayram Saatci is the Dutch-speaking Vice-President.
There has been tension within the EMB over the last few weeks. On Friday, Le Vif spoke of pressure from the more rigorous branches and the pro-Erdogan Turkish branch. Other sources say the tension is due to the illegitimacy of the outgoing President. Salah Echallaoui wasn’t a member of the EMB when he took over from Nourredine Smaïli in 2016. Plus, Mr Smaïli’s mandate was still in place.
The Brussels Times
