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Tram Assault Honored
A mural appeared near the Evere cemetery to pay tribute to Driss Atounane, who died after a violent assault on tram 55 last Thursday.
“Last night, a mural appeared near the Evere cemetery to pay tribute to Driss Atounane”
BruxellesToday said the man was hailed for his heroism, and it reported that his funeral will take place on Friday at the mosque and then at the multi-faith cemetery of Evere.
L'Avenir placed the events on Saturday, July 25, 2026, saying the passenger endured racist and Islamophobic insults and that the defender was hospitalized but did not survive his injuries.
RTBF said the 54-year-old merchant at Place Liedts in Schaerbeek died after an assault that occurred on July 23 aboard tram 55, after he intervened to defend a female passenger subjected to racist and Islamophobic insults.
Art, Memory, and Quotes
The mural’s inscription, as described by L'Avenir, reads the Quranic precept "Who saves a life, saves humanity," and it said the painting is located at the intersection of Rue de Zaventem and Avenue Jules Bordet in Evere.
BruxellesToday reported that the mayor of Evere, Alessandro Zappala (PS), commented on the artwork and approach with the line "When art becomes a duty of memory."
DHnet said Zappala also wrote online that "He deserves homage and distinction," and it described the mural as located on a panel near Evere Cemetery at the intersection of Avenue Jules Bordet and Zaventem Street.
BX1 reported that At Place Liedts, where he ran a business with his brother, the neighborhood mourned his death after he was assaulted on Line 55 in Evere, and it said the attacker struck him on the head with a heavy object before delivering several kicks while he was on the ground.
Medals, Funeral, and Fundraising
BRUZZ reported that calls have been made to posthumously award Atounane a medal, and it said a Facebook video showed city councillor Mourad Maimouni asking Bernard Quintin (MR), Minister of the Interior, to award him a posthumous medal.
“The law provides for an official procedure, in which several parties are involved”
In the same BRUZZ account, the Quintin cabinet said, "The law provides for an official procedure, in which several parties are involved," and that the minister can only give final approval based on a complete and official dossier.
BRUZZ also said residents of Schaarbeek started a fundraising campaign for Atounane’s family but temporarily suspended it after speaking with the family, and it reported that the fundraising had raised almost €2,500 so far.
RTBF said Atounane’s funeral will take place this Friday at the Attaouba Mosque in Evere before burial in the multi-faith cemetery, while BruxelleToday said the funeral will take place on Friday at the mosque and then at the multi-faith cemetery of Evere.
