Mr Bontinck returns without his son Jejoen from Syria

Dimitri Bontinck held a press conference yesterday to tell more about his adventures. He claims he succeeded in finding his son, who was living in a compound together with other radicalist Belgians who joined the rebels in Syria.  "I was within 3 metres of the house where my son and the other Belgians are staying. Despite the fact that I was accompanied by rebel fighters and a general of the Free Syrian Army, I was not allowed to meet him."

"I was told I could only meet him on the condition that I adopted the Islamic faith. Second, I think that they are afraid that my son would say negative things about Belkacem and co", Mr Bontinck told reporters.

Dimitri Bontinck can't believe his son joined the fight in Syria just like that and thinks that his son was brainwashed by Sharia4Belgium in Belgium. "If that organisation hadn't existed, my son would never have left for Syria."

Sharia4Belgium was officially dismantled, but the organisation apparently still has a lot of influence. Its former leader, Fouad Belkacem, is a name that clearly rings a bell with the Syrian rebels, Mr Bontinck said, before launching an appeal to other Belgian youngsters: "Don't go to Syria, you don't know where you end up."

The future remains uncertain. Still, this is not the end of his quest. He wants to return to Syria "with a team of specialised people." Meanwhile, some have urged criticism. Mr Bontinck's travels were highly mediatized and it turns out that he is facing charges related to domestic violence.