Evere to Name Square After Man Who Died on Tram

The municipality of Evere has proposed naming a square after Driss Atounane, the 54-year-old shopkeeper who died in July after intervening to defend a woman from racist abuse on a Brussels tram. The motion, filed by Ridouane Chahid (PS), chairman of the Evere municipal council and former mayor, seeks to honour Atounane’s bravery and sacrifice, according to VRT NWS.

The Incident

Atounane, a well-known entrepreneur who ran a supermarket on Place Liedts in Schaerbeek, was travelling on Tram 55 in Evere on the afternoon of July 23 when he witnessed a fellow passenger verbally assaulting a woman with racist insults. The assailant reportedly called the woman a “dirty Arab” and told her she had “no business being here,” as The Brussels Times reported.

When Atounane called out the man’s behaviour, the attacker struck him over the head with a heavy object, causing him to collapse. He was rushed to Brugmann University Hospital, where he fell into a coma. Atounane died on Sunday, July 26, VRT NWS reported. The suspect was arrested and charged with intentional assault and battery against a vulnerable person resulting in incapacity, with an investigating judge appointing a forensic psychiatrist to examine the accused.

A Community’s Tribute

The proposal calls for naming a small square at the intersection of Lindestraat, Henri Van Hammestraat, and Édouard Stuckensstraat — near the Linde tram stop where the attack occurred — after Atounane. An alternative location, a small park between Van Hammestraat and Stuckensstraat, is proposed as a backup option. The municipal government also intends to formally request that Brussels transport operator MIVB rename the tram stop “Linde-Driss Atounane,” according to BRUZZ.

Chahid said the recognition aims to “praise the civic courage, selflessness and solidarity” of Atounane when he intervened on the tram. The gesture should also “recognise the exceptional and heroic character of his act” and “pay tribute to his social commitment against indifference, violence and racism,” as The Brussels Times reported. The motion commits to presenting the plan to Atounane’s family and seeking their approval.

Outpouring of Grief and Recognition

The death of Atounane — a father of two, including a 17-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter — provoked widespread grief across Brussels. Approximately 1,000 people attended his funeral prayer at Mosque Attawba in Evere on July 31, with mourners overflowing onto the street and tram tracks, VRT NWS reported.

His son Sami paid an emotional tribute, telling VRT NWS that his father was “a hero” who “spoiled me my whole life.” “Even when he had already passed away, he was smiling,” Sami said. “He looked peaceful, as if he thought: I have gone in beauty, I have gone as a hero.”

In the days following his death, a mural honouring Atounane appeared in Evere, created by Brussels street artist Fouad Hachmi (HMI). The artwork depicts Atounane alongside the message “Whoever saves one life saves humanity,” as The Brussels Times reported.

Medal Proposal and Next Steps

Separately, Mourad Maimouni, a municipal council member for Team Fouad Ahidar in Brussels, has proposed posthumously awarding Atounane a medal or honorary distinction. According to a spokesperson for Bernard Quintin, Minister of Home Affairs, it is now up to the municipality where the heroic act occurred to investigate and officially nominate Atounane for such an honour, BruxellesToday reported.

The motion from Ridouane Chahid is scheduled for discussion at the Evere municipal council meeting on Wednesday, September 2. Police had earlier issued an appeal for witnesses to the attack, and a witness who was also struck by the assailant was later identified by federal police, according to La Libre.

What to Watch For

The municipal council’s decision on September 2 will determine whether the tribute moves forward, and the family’s approval will be a key step in the process. The case also continues to highlight broader concerns about safety and racism in Brussels, with residents and officials alike calling for justice and remembrance. As one mourner at Atounane’s funeral put it: “He was not the only passenger on that tram, but he was the only one who stood up for that woman. Is that heroic? Yes, but above all also tragic.”