A Pakistani family has lost their right to stay in Belgium after their son was identified as a ‘terrorist’ for carrying his cricket bat on public transport, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday.
Assim Abassi, 22, was carrying his covered bat while travelling in public transport to a cricket practice session when his photo was taken by the authorities. The police later circulated the photo, generating a terror scare against the backdrop of an attack on the Jewish museum in Brussels earlier this year.
Abbasi was showcased as a terrorist armed with a weapon in newspapers with headlines warning of an “anti-Semitic killer” on the loose in Brussels. He contacted the law enforcers to clarify that he was only carrying his bat and not an assault rifle.
“I wrapped my bat in my sweatshirt because it was raining and if it is wet I can’t play the ball properly,” he said.
In a more surprising move, Pakistan’s embassy in Brussels sacked Assim’s father after claiming that he had damaged Pakistan’s reputation. Assim’s father was reportedly a career diplomat and was working for the embassy.
The family of seven subsequently lost their right to stay in the European country following the dissociation from the embassy.
“We got a call from the embassy saying give us your passports,” Assim Abbasi was quoted as saying in the report.
“We’ve lost the privilege of living in Belgium. I’ve lost my education. I’ve lost everything.”
According to the report, the Pakistani embassy refused to comment when contacted.
