Sharia4Belgium defendants on trial
It was in February 2012 that the investigation into the extremist Muslim fundamentalist organisation started. In April of the following year 48 premises across the country were raided: in Antwerp, Brussels, Boom, Vilvoorde, Schaarbeek and Charleroi. Belgium’s federal public prosecutors say that the investigation yielded sufficient results in order to consider Sharia4Belgium a terrorist organisation.
Fouad Belkacem, Sharia4Belgium's former spokesman and a defendant in the present trial, was taken into custody. He has been in remand ever since. In 2010 Fouad Belkacem was one of the founders of Sharia4Belgium recruiting youngsters during street sermons. The organisation's leaders stand accused of heading a terrorist outfit and risk up to 15 years in jail.
Recruits received religious and ideological indoctrination. They participated in street protests and were later encouraged to go and fight in Syria. These defendants now stand accused of participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation and risk a 5-year prison sentence.
The celebrated Syria fighter Jejoen Bontinck(pictured) is among their number. Prosecutors also consider him a victim because when he wanted to return to Belgium he was prevented from doing so by three fellow defendants. Jejoen Bontinck is expected to provide evidence during the trial. On his return he made a full confession and also provided evidence against other defendants.
Michaël Delefortrie, a returned Syria-fighter, and Brian De Mulder, who is still in Syria, face charges in connection with threats against Belgian Defence Minister Pieter De Crem and the Dutch rightist politician Geert Wilders.
Several defendants including Fouad Belkacem face charges in connection with the arrest and efforts to identify a young woman wearing a full face veil at a police station in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek in 2012.
The trial occurs before Antwerp magistrates. Today the prosecution will present its case. On Tuesday it is the turn of the defence.Today only eight defendants turned up. Some are thought to be in Syria, while others may be dead.
Stringent security measures are in place at the courthouse and throughout the entire area. There is also a large national and international press presence. Police have asked the public to stay away. Police spokeswoman Veerle De Vries: "This is the largest terrorism trial ever in Antwerp and probably ever in Belgium."
