Police Say About 5,500 People Took Part In Brussels Rally Against UN Migration Compact

Police Say About 5,500 People Took Part in Brussels Rally Against UN Migration Compact

BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th December, 2018) Some 5,500 people participated in a rally against the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration � a landmark United Nations pact on migration � in Brussels, according to police.

The so called March against Marrakesh was initially banned by the Belgian authorities, but the National Security Council of Belgium (NSC) later canceled the ban.

The march was organized by 10 right-wing movements and parties from Belgium's Flanders region and other opponents of the UN global compact on migration. Some 12,000 people confirmed their participation in the rally via Facebook, while 35,000 people showed their interest in attending the event.

According to media reports, a number of individuals were engaged in talks with "yellow vest" protesters in southern region of Wallonia, hoping to make them join the march.

Meanwhile, police reported that no serious incidents had occurred during the rally.

The protesters gathered in the European Quarter, where various EU institutions are located, shouting "We are tired, close the borders," "No jihad in our country" and other slogans, in particular, calling for the prime minister's resignation.

In early December, the largest party of the Belgian ruling coalition, the New Flemish Alliance, threatened to leave the coalition if Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel signed the UN Global Compact for Migration. Earlier this week, Belgium signed the document, which resulted in the coalition's collapse.

The agreement, finalized on July 13 by all UN member states except the United States, represents the international community's attempt to establish a common global approach to all aspects of international migration. The pact comprises 23 objectives for better managing migration at local, national, regional and global levels.