Student protests are spreading in Europe: Streets are chaotic in Belgium, security measures have been increased

Hundreds of students in the eastern Belgian city of Liege took to the streets to protest increasing education costs and problems in the education system.

Protesters, who were also affected by the student protests that have been going on for weeks in neighboring France, reacted to the increase in education expenses, crowded classes and difficulties in accessing course materials.

According to Reuters, 107 people were detained due to the incidents that broke out during the recent demonstrations.

While Belgium's Belga news agency reported that the detentions were related to charges such as property damage and arson, no official confirmation could be received from local authorities regarding the number of detentions.

CALL FROM AUTHORITIES TO CLOSE WORKPLACES

Security measures were increased after the demonstrations turned into violence in some regions.

In the statement made via BE-Alert, the official warning system of the Belgian government, it was stated that serious events were taking place in the city and called on tradesmen to close their workplaces.

Transportation in the city center was also affected by the protests. Liege's main train station was temporarily closed but later reopened.

In a statement on social media, the police stated that traffic in the city center was seriously disrupted due to the demonstrations and asked the public to stay away from the area.

Images spread on social media showed broken windows, fires breaking out in the streets and police teams blocking the demonstrators.

It was also reported that during the protests held on Wednesday, the police checked some students to see if they were carrying weapons.

EDUCATION FEES INCREASED FROM 835 EURO TO 1194 EURO

At the center of the students' reaction are educational reforms in Belgium's French-speaking community.

Within the scope of the regulations, which also caused protests in the capital Brussels in June, higher education fees for most students are expected to be increased from 835 Euros to 1194 Euros.

In addition to increasing costs, student density in classrooms and problems in accessing educational materials are among the main reasons for the demonstrations.

With the banners they carried, the demonstrators emphasized that education is not a privilege, but a fundamental right.

Some banners read: "We are fighting for a right, not for a privilege!" and “I chose education, not the Hunger Games!” statements were included.

PROTESTS IN FRANCE MOVED STUDENTS

It was stated that the student movement in Belgium was affected by the ongoing education protests in neighboring France.

Some students who spoke to Reuters said they were in contact with demonstrators in France and were struggling with similar problems.

19-year-old Alfred stated that they are in solidarity with French students and said, "We support each other because we face almost the same problems."

19-year-old Amelia Di Salve, who is studying to be a teacher, explained that the student movement in Belgium emerged at the beginning of the year and gained strength again after the protests in France.

Di Salve stated that they saw that there was no change without protests and that the demonstrations in France also mobilized them.

In France, students have been organizing demonstrations for weeks due to crowded classes, lack of teachers and insufficient resources of educational institutions.

CALL FOR DIALOGUE FROM THE MAYOR

Mayor of Liege, Willy Demeyer, stated in his statement to the Belgian public broadcaster RTBF that he hoped for calm to be restored in the city.

Demeyer emphasized that students should be able to express their demands peacefully and establish dialogue with the authorities.

Demeyer said that he wanted the students' concerns to be listened to and hoped that the protests would be resolved before they turn into conflict.