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{{Short description|Belgian politician (born 1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Jinnih Beels
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Jinnih beels-1549175542.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| office1 = Member of the [[Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)|Chamber of Representatives]]
| constituency1 = [[Antwerp (Chamber of Representatives constituency)|Antwerp]]
| term_start1 = 9 June 2024
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|10|08|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Calcutta]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| citizenship =
| party = [[Vooruit (political party)|Vooruit]]
| other_party =
| spouse =
| partner =
| relations =
| children =
| alma_mater = [[KU Leuven]]
| occupation =
| profession =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Jinnih Beels''' (born 8 October 1976) is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] politician and member of the [[Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)|Chamber of Representatives]].<ref name="Kamer">{{cite web |title=De Kamerleden: Jinnih Beels |url=https://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/showpage.cfm?section=/depute&language=nl&cfm=cvview54.cfm?key=07731 |publisher=[[Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)|Chamber of Representatives]] |access-date=10 September 2024 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref> A member of [[Vooruit (political party)|Vooruit]], she has represented [[Antwerp (Chamber of Representatives constituency)|Antwerp]] since June 2024.

==Early life==
Beels was born on 8 October 1976 in [[Calcutta]], India.<ref name="Kamer"/><ref name="KU Leuven">{{cite web |last1=De Munnynck |first1=Barbara |title=Criminologe Jinnih Beels is klaar voor haar politiek avontuur |url=https://nieuws.kuleuven.be/nl/2018/201cik-wil-buiten-de-lijntjes-kunnen-kleuren201d |publisher=[[KU Leuven]] |access-date=12 September 2024 |location=Leuven, Belgium |language=nl |date=19 February 2018}}</ref> Her mother was Indian and her father was [[Flemish people|Flemish]].<ref name="KU Leuven"/> Her mother Amna Khatoon, a Muslim, named Beels after [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]].<ref name="DM251217">{{cite news |last1=Van Puymbroeck |first1=Rik |title=Jinnih Beels: "Naïviteit is niet achterlijk" |url=https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/jinnih-beels-naiviteit-is-niet-achterlijk~b1b414ad/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[De Morgen]] |date=25 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031142311/https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/jinnih-beels-naiviteit-is-niet-achterlijk~b1b414ad/ |archive-date=31 October 2020 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref> Her father worked for a shipping company in Calcutta.<ref name="KU Leuven"/><ref name="DM251217"/>

When Beels was three her mother died after being poisoned by someone who was jealous due to her being married to a Westerner and about to move to Belgium.<ref name="KU Leuven"/><ref name="DM251217"/> The culprit was known but never prosecuted.<ref name="KU Leuven"/> Beels was placed in a [[boarding school]] by her father who, after encountering difficulties as she had no [[birth certificate]], eventually brought her to [[Antwerp]] three years later in June 1983.<ref name="KU Leuven"/><ref name="DM251217"/>

Beels was brought up by her father and paternal grandmother in Antwerp and was educated at the [[:nl:Onze-Lieve-Vrouwinstituut Pulhof|Onze-Lieve-Vrouwinstituut Pulhof]] in [[Berchem]].<ref name="KU Leuven"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bernaerts |first1=Nina |title="Rechtvaardigheid is de rode draad in mijn leven" |url=https://www.hln.be/antwerpen/rechtvaardigheid-is-de-rode-draad-in-mijn-leven~a80a7a2d/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Het Laatste Nieuws]] |date=23 June 2018 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref> She studied [[criminology]] at [[KU Leuven]] from 1996 to 2000.<ref name="KU Leuven"/> She also studied diversity management at KU Leuven (2010–2011) and intercultural management at [[Lessius Hogeschool]] (2011–2012).<ref name="KU Leuven"/>

==Police career==
Beels trained to be a {{lang|nl|commissaris}} (police commissioner) at the National School for Officers in [[Etterbeek]] from 2000 to 2002.<ref name="KU Leuven"/> After qualifying, she joined the [[Federal Police (Belgium)|Federal Police]] in [[Brussels]] in 2002 as a commissioner.<ref name="KU Leuven"/> Between 2003 and 2016 she held various positions at the {{ill|Local police (Belgium)|lt=Local police|nl|Lokale politie}} in Antwerp: team manager [[Hoboken]] (2003–2006), media [[spokesperson]] (2006–2008), head of the [[Diversity (business)|diversity]] department (2008–2015) and deputy regional manager of the northern division (20015-2016).<ref name="KU Leuven"/> The diversity department was sidelined after the [[right wing]] [[New Flemish Alliance]] took control of Antwerp in 2012.<ref name="KU Leuven"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tom |first1=Pardoen |title=Het jaar van Jinnih Beels: 'De politiek heeft nood aan woelwaters als ik' |url=https://www.humo.be/nieuws/het-jaar-van-jinnih-beels-de-politiek-heeft-nood-aan-woelwaters-als-ik~b4e9eacd/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Humo (magazine)|Humo]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027101402/https://www.humo.be/nieuws/het-jaar-van-jinnih-beels-de-politiek-heeft-nood-aan-woelwaters-als-ik~b4e9eacd/ |archive-date=27 October 2021 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref> After falling out with police chief Serge Muyters, Beels was transferred to the local police in [[Mechelen]]-[[Willebroek]] where she was [[:nl:Gemeenschapsgerichte politiezorg|Gemeenschapsgerichte politiezorg]] (GGPZ) and diversity officer from 2016 to 2017.<ref name="KU Leuven"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Toeloose |first1=An |title=Jinnih Beels, het wit konijn van "Samen" |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2017/10/13/jinnih-beels--het-wit-konijn-van-antwerpse-kartellijst--samen-/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[VRT (broadcaster)|VRT]] |date=13 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130173605/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2017/10/13/jinnih-beels--het-wit-konijn-van-antwerpse-kartellijst--samen-/ |archive-date=30 November 2020 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref>

In February 2017 an investigation was launched after a racist message, containing a photograph of Beels with the caption {{lang|nl|En waarom zou ik je een hand geven? Jou kleur staat me niet aan}} ("And why should I shake your hand? I don't like your colour"), was shared on [[WhatsApp]] by Mechelen police officers, an episode that mayor [[Bart Somers]] blamed on a few [[bad apple]]s.<ref name="DM240217">{{cite news |last1=Ceulemans |first1=Ewoud |title=Mechels politiecommissaris Jinnih Beels slachtoffer van racisme: "Totaal onaanvaardbaar" |url=https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/mechels-politiecommissaris-jinnih-beels-slachtoffer-van-racisme-totaal-onaanvaardbaar~b08d6bf4/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[De Morgen]] |date=24 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126093726/https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/mechels-politiecommissaris-jinnih-beels-slachtoffer-van-racisme-totaal-onaanvaardbaar~b08d6bf4/ |archive-date=26 November 2022 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jinnih Beels: 'Erg voor familie en collega's' |url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20170225_02751005 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[De Standaard]] |date=25 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607135851/https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20170225_02751005 |archive-date=7 June 2019 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref> Earlier almost all Moroccan and Turkish origin officers had resigned from the Mechelen police due to racism and bullying.<ref name="DM240217"/> Bert V.L., a 37-year-old chief inspector, was prosecuted for sending the racist message about Beels but was [[acquitted]] in May 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jinnih Beels was "intens ongelukkig" na overstap van politie Antwerpen naar Mechelen: "Anderhalf jaar lang met lood in de schoenen gaan werken" |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20220802_92383331 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Humo (magazine)|Humo]] |date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809162621/https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20220802_92383331 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl |via=[[Gazet van Antwerpen]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Indeherberge |first1=Liesbeth |title=Mechelse hoofdinspecteur vrijgesproken voor vermeende racistische uitlatingen tegen Jinnih Beels |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/05/11/mechelse-hoofdinspecteur-krijgt-xxx-maanden-straf-voor-racistisc/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[VRT (broadcaster)|VRT]] |date=14 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925103009/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/05/11/mechelse-hoofdinspecteur-krijgt-xxx-maanden-straf-voor-racistisc/ |archive-date=25 September 2022 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Malines: le policier qui a diffusé un montage raciste de Jinnih Beels est acquitté |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/malines-le-policier-qui-a-diffuse-un-montage-raciste-de-jinnih-beels-est-acquitte-9917164 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[RTBF]] |agency=[[Belga (news agency)|Belga]] |date=14 May 2018 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=fr}}</ref> Prosecutors [[appeal]]ed the verdict but in June 2019 the Court of Appeal in Antwerp upheld the acquittal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-politieman die spotprent Jinnih Beels verspreidde vrijgesproken in beroep: 'Misplaatste grap' |url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20190606_04447364 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[De Standaard]] |date=6 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609002632/http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20190606_04447364 |archive-date=9 June 2019 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref>

==Politics==
In October 2017 Beels was chosen as an [[Independent politician|independent]] candidate for Samen, an [[electoral alliance]] formed by the [[Socialist Party Different]] (SP.A) and [[Groen (political party)|Groen]] to contest the [[2018 Belgian local elections|2018 local election]] in Antwerp.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vanmarsenille |first1=Kris |title=Wouter Van Besien (Groen), Tom Meeuws (sp.a) en onafhankelijke Jinnih Beels: "We hebben geen plan B" |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20171013_03131529/wouter-van-besien-groen-tom-meeuws-sp-a-en-onafhankelijke-jinnih-beels-we-hebben-geen-plan-b |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Gazet van Antwerpen]] |date=14 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804054503/https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20171013_03131529/wouter-van-besien-groen-tom-meeuws-sp-a-en-onafhankelijke-jinnih-beels-we-hebben-geen-plan-b |archive-date=4 August 2020 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cobbaert |first1=Paul |title=Antwerps schepen Jinnih Beels (SP.A) is scherp voor voormalige kartelpartner Groen: "Uiteengaan was verstandig" |url=https://www.dezondag.be/actua/jinnihbeels/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=De Zondag |date=24 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225094441/https://www.dezondag.be/actua/jinnihbeels/ |archive-date=25 February 2024 |location=Roeselare, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref> After the alliance broke up Beels aligned with SP.A in January 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jinnih Beels kiest voor sp.a Antwerpen: "Een hartverscheurende keuze" |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20180118_03306979?journeybuilder=nopaywall |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Gazet van Antwerpen]] |date=18 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001142420/https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20180118_03306979/jinnih-beels-kiest-voor-sp-a |archive-date=1 October 2018 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Elections communales 2018: à Anvers, la numéro 2 de l'ex-liste "Samen" figurera comme indépendante sur celle du sp.a |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/elections-communales-2018-a-anvers-la-numero-2-de-l-ex-liste-samen-figurera-comme-independante-sur-celle-du-sp-a-9815336 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[RTBF]] |agency=[[Belga (news agency)|Belga]] |date=18 January 2018 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=fr}}</ref> In June 2018 she started working for the SP.A [[parliamentary group]] as a safety advisor.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gyssels |first1=Arnout |title=Geen partijkaart, wel op loonlijst sp.a: Jinnih Beels aan de slag als adviseur Veiligheid bij Kamerfractie |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20180605_03546779 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Gazet van Antwerpen]] |date=6 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506072327/https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20180605_03546779 |archive-date=6 May 2024 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref> She was elected to the municipal council at the local election.<ref name="lv18">{{cite web |title=Lokale verkiezingen 2018: Antwerpen (stad) - Verkozen kandidaten |url=https://resultaten2018.vlaanderenkiest.be/#/gemeente/11002/verkozenen |website=Vlaanderen kiest |publisher=[[Flemish Government]] |access-date=12 September 2024 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=De Wever is het grootste stemmenkanon, maar zijn coalitiepartners falen |url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20181014_03835538 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[De Standaard]] |date=14 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528063454/https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20181014_03835538 |archive-date=28 May 2022 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref> Shortly after the election she joined SP.A.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jinnih Beels heeft nu toch partijkaart van sp.a |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20181028_03886294/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Gazet van Antwerpen]] |date=28 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010084319/https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20181028_03886294/ |archive-date=10 October 2021 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Touriel |first1=Aubry |title=Être indépendant et tirer une liste de parti, un phénomène typiquement flamand |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/etre-independant-et-tirer-une-liste-de-parti-un-phenomene-typiquement-flamand-10122274 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[RTBF]] |date=18 January 2019 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=fr}}</ref> She became [[schepen]] (alderman) for education, youth, civic integration and naturalisation in January 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Antwerps schepen Jinnih Beels (SP.A): "Van mij mag het stoppen met dat klimaatspijbelen" |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20190224_04201252 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Het Nieuwsblad]] |date=24 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812131819/https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20190224_04201252 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |location=Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nuyts |first1=Joppe |title=Jinnih Beels analyseert verlies van SP.A: "Te veel naar de portemonnee gesproken, te weinig naar het hart" |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/06/09/jinnih-beels-sp-a-in-de-zevende-dag/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[VRT (broadcaster)|VRT]] |date=9 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818130107/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/06/09/jinnih-beels-sp-a-in-de-zevende-dag/ |archive-date=18 August 2022 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref> In March 2024, after falling out with the local [[Vooruit (political party)|Vooruit]] branch over its support for Tom Meeuws after he made racist comments, Beels announced that she wouldn't be contesting the [[2024 Belgian local elections|2024 local election]] and would be moving back to [[Westerlo]] where her family live.<ref>{{cite news |last1=El Mabrouk |first1=Farid |title="Iek zèn raaazend oep Jinnih": in Antwerpen halen velen opgelucht adem, maar ontslag Beels is ferme domper voor Vooruit |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240329_93837011 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Het Nieuwsblad]] |date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329121518/https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240329_93837011 |archive-date=29 March 2024 |location=Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jinnih Beels wil terug bij haar gezin "in de mooie Kempen" gaan wonen en komt niet op bij gemeenteraadsverkiezingen |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240331_94183623 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Het Nieuwsblad]] |date=31 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410085219/https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240331_94183623 |archive-date=10 April 2024 |location=Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref>

Beels contested the [[2019 Belgian regional elections|2019 regional election]] as the SP.A's 33rd placed candidate in [[Antwerp (Flemish Parliament constituency)|Antwerp]] but was not elected.<ref name="vk19">{{cite web |title=Resultaat Vlaams Parlement 26 mei 2019 - Kieskring Antwerpen |url=https://verkiezingsresultaten.belgium.be/nl/election-results/vlaams-parlement/2019/kieskring/223021 |website=Verkiezingsuitslagen |publisher=[[Federal Public Service Interior]] |access-date=12 September 2024 |archive-url= |archive-date= |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Wouter Van Besien, Jinnih Beels en Dirk Van Mechelen niet verkozen |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20190527_04428818 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=[[Gazet van Antwerpen]] |date=26 May 2019 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref> She was elected to the [[Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)|Chamber of Representatives]] at the [[2024 Belgian federal election|2024 federal election]].<ref name="vk24">{{cite web |title=Resultaat Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers 9 juni 2024 - Kieskring Antwerpen |url=https://verkiezingsresultaten.belgium.be/nl/election-results/kamer-van-volksvertegenwoordigers/2024/kieskring/250987 |website=Verkiezingsuitslagen |publisher=[[Federal Public Service Interior]] |access-date=12 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901115152/https://verkiezingsresultaten.belgium.be/nl/election-results/kamer-van-volksvertegenwoordigers/2024/kieskring/250987 |archive-date=1 September 2024 |location=Brussels, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Gennez op één, wie staat nog in top vijf van voorkeursstemmen? |url=https://www.rtv.be/regionale-politiek/gennez-op-een-wie-staat-nog-top-vijf-van-voorkeursstemmen |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=RTV |date=10 June 2024 |location=Antwerp, Belgium |language=nl}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Beels is married to a police commissioner and has a son and two step-daughters.<ref name="KU Leuven"/>

==Electoral history==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|+ Electoral history of Anja Vanrobaeys
! scope=col|Election
! scope=col|Constituency
! scope=col colspan="2"|Party
! scope=col|Votes
! scope=col|Result
|-
| [[2018 Belgian local elections|2018 local]]<ref name="lv18"/> || [[Antwerp]] || style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party Different}};"| || [[Socialist Party Different]] || align=right|{{Nts|12815}} || '''Elected'''
|-
| [[2019 Belgian regional elections|2019 regional]]<ref name="vk19"/> || [[Antwerp (Flemish Parliament constituency)|Antwerp]] || style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party Different}};"| || [[Socialist Party Different]] || align=right|{{Nts|7843}} || Not elected
|-
| [[2024 Belgian federal election|2024 federal]]<ref name="vk24"/> || [[Antwerp (Chamber of Representatives constituency)|Antwerp]] || style="background:{{party color|Vooruit (political party)}};"| || [[Vooruit (political party)|Vooruit]] || align=right|{{Nts|26666}} || '''Elected'''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Navigation Vooruit}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beels, Jinnih}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:21st-century Belgian women politicians]]
[[Category:Belgian city councillors]]
[[Category:Belgian police officers]]
[[Category:Immigrants to Belgium]]
[[Category:KU Leuven alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the 56th Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Politicians from Antwerp]]
[[Category:Vooruit (political party) politicians]]
[[Category:Women members of the Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)]]

Jinnih Beels - Revision history

Victorxsi: Creating a details