Comedian, director, actor, and host Mohamed Ouachen announced his resignation from the board of directors of the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Belgium (Bozar) this Wednesday. On social media, the artist and founder of the non-profit organization Diversity on Stage explained that his decision stemmed from the programming of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Lahav Shani, who is also the musical director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mohamed Ouachen emphasized that his decision was not made «lightly», noting that «Lahav Shani is not just any conductor» due to his association with «an institution that positions itself as the official cultural ambassador of Israel, a state whose actions Amnesty International describes as genocide and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) labels as apartheid». «In today’s context, this choice carries political weight, whether we like it or not», he stated.
While expressing his respect for the governance and individuals involved, Mohamed Ouachen believes that staying within an organization that hosts such a figure would mean «endorsing what [he] refuses». «I am not leaving in anger. I am leaving with clarity. I will not comment further», he wrote, expressing gratitude to the Bozar teams.
Hailing from a diverse background, Mohamed Ouachen was appointed to the Bozar administrative board in 2021, alongside Hakima Darhmouch, following a selection process. This appointment marked the first time two prominent Belgian-Moroccan cultural figures joined the board.
The Bozar administrative board consists of twelve members, including seven women and five men, equally divided between French and Dutch speakers. It is chaired by Isabelle Mazzara.