New policies to combat terrorism in Belgium

The European Center for Anti-Terrorism and Intelligence Studies, based in Germany and the Netherlands, published on Saturday, December 7, 2019, a report entitled: “Belgium .. New Policies in Combating Extremism and Terrorism”, in which it talked about the methods that Brussels is using to fight terrorism.

According to the report, Belgian intelligence services have warned that the country faces a persistent terrorist threat due to extremism in prisons, the risk of those convicted of terrorism resuming their activities, in addition to the spread of jihadist Salafism, and the risks of the return of foreign fighters.

Because of this, the Center’s report stated that Belgium’s internal intelligence and state security services provided new means to combat terrorism and its dangers.

The possession of weapons is prohibited

According to the report, the Belgian government confirmed that it would take legal measures against anyone who possesses a weapon without a license, after the grace period expired on 1 March 2019, which it granted in 2018 to civilians who have unlicensed weapons, without any penalty.

On August 6, 2019, the Belgian Minister of Justice, Jens Cowen, declared that the files of illegal possession and trafficking of firearms are a priority in the 2016-2019 national security plan.

Belgian police confiscated 638 weapons, and arrested 205 people during a security operation that included various parts of the country, targeting persons suspected of being involved in illegal import or possession of weapons in mid-September 2019.

Combating terrorism on the Internet

As for the fight against terrorism on the World Wide Web, the Belgian Public Prosecution announced, on November 25, 2019, that an electronic attack against ISIS propaganda targets, targeting the Amaq agency, was carried out by the local police with the participation of international elements from Europol, confirming the success of the operation in defeating the organization on the Internet.

Women are fighting terrorism

In a new step, the Belgian Ministry of Defense announced, on November 18, 2019, the creation of a special military unit of women recruited into the Belgian army, in the end of the year 2019-2020 to counter terrorist threats.

Women joined the Belgian army in 1975, but they were abolished in 1992, but in public emergencies, female soldiers are called in immediately.

Fighting imams of extremism in mosques

According to the report of the European Center, the Belgian Security Service counted about 100 organizations belonging to the jihadist Salafism in the country, April 2019, and the number of imams suspected of ties to hard-line thought in Brussels doubled and were subject to the supervision of the State Security Agency, during 2017 and 2018, bringing their number to 72 imams in 2018.

The Belgian authorities have tended to limit the recruitment of imams from abroad, as well as to expel or remove those who have any information regarding doubts in their religious discourse.

Earlier, Belgium cut off funding for extremist mosques, and withdrew its recognition of imams who fuel anti-Western sentiments, among members of the country's Muslim community, refusing to integrate into Western society, and inciting hatred against non-Muslims.

According to Belgian intelligence documents, 30 of the 300 mosques in Brussels are accused of spreading such ideas, adding that young Arab immigrants who have not yet integrated into society are a major target for recruitment by Islamic militants, as they are more vulnerable to being influenced by hostile ideas.

Intelligence problems

The report indicated that Willie Bruggeman, head of the Federal Police, announced on October 14, 2019, that there is no staff reserve if a new terrorist threat or major security crisis emerges; stressing that the Federal Police is unable to deal with it, and the statute is very strict.

At the same time, Philippe Claus, the mayor of Brussels, pointed to the urgent need to refinance the police, pointing out that very little money has been released in recent years, and that more monitoring has been invested in new cameras and intervention vehicles, but this is not enough.

The report notes that some believe that the joining of new elements into the police services is proceeding very slowly, especially as its schools graduate 1400 people each year, while the service ends 1700 in the same year.

ISIS and humanitarian visas

According to the center's report, some observers allude to fears that ISIS benefits from the humanitarian visas that Belgium has granted to some people and they have already succeeded in entering Brussels, and from there they can travel to other places to pose a great danger.

On January 16, 2019, the Belgian Minister of Immigration and Refugees Maggie Doblock confirmed her intention to work to reorganize the mechanisms for granting humanitarian visas to the country.

The report stressed the necessity of some restrictions on the freed militants, the continued observation of them, the increase in financial resources and services for the security services in the country, and the addition of new elements to the police services faster.New policies to combat terrorism in Belgium

Moaz Muhammad

The European Center for Anti-Terrorism and Intelligence Studies, based in Germany and the Netherlands, published on Saturday, December 7, 2019, a report entitled: “Belgium .. New Policies in Combating Extremism and Terrorism”, in which it talked about the methods that Brussels is using to fight terrorism.

According to the report, Belgian intelligence services have warned that the country faces a persistent terrorist threat due to extremism in prisons, the risk of those convicted of terrorism resuming their activities, in addition to the spread of jihadist Salafism, and the risks of the return of foreign fighters.

Because of this, the Center’s report stated that Belgium’s internal intelligence and state security services provided new means to combat terrorism and its dangers.

The possession of weapons is prohibited

According to the report, the Belgian government confirmed that it would take legal measures against anyone who possesses a weapon without a license, after the grace period expired on 1 March 2019, which it granted in 2018 to civilians who have unlicensed weapons, without any penalty.

On August 6, 2019, the Belgian Minister of Justice, Jens Cowen, declared that the files of illegal possession and trafficking of firearms are a priority in the 2016-2019 national security plan.

Belgian police confiscated 638 weapons, and arrested 205 people during a security operation that included various parts of the country, targeting persons suspected of being involved in illegal import or possession of weapons in mid-September 2019.

Combating terrorism on the Internet

As for the fight against terrorism on the World Wide Web, the Belgian Public Prosecution announced, on November 25, 2019, that an electronic attack against ISIS propaganda targets, targeting the Amaq agency, was carried out by the local police with the participation of international elements from Europol, confirming the success of the operation in defeating the organization on the Internet.

Women are fighting terrorism

In a new step, the Belgian Ministry of Defense announced, on November 18, 2019, the creation of a special military unit of women recruited into the Belgian army, in the end of the year 2019-2020 to counter terrorist threats.

Women joined the Belgian army in 1975, but they were abolished in 1992, but in public emergencies, female soldiers are called in immediately.

Fighting imams of extremism in mosques

According to the report of the European Center, the Belgian Security Service counted about 100 organizations belonging to the jihadist Salafism in the country, April 2019, and the number of imams suspected of ties to hard-line thought in Brussels doubled and were subject to the supervision of the State Security Agency, during 2017 and 2018, bringing their number to 72 imams in 2018.

The Belgian authorities have tended to limit the recruitment of imams from abroad, as well as to expel or remove those who have any information regarding doubts in their religious discourse.

Earlier, Belgium cut off funding for extremist mosques, and withdrew its recognition of imams who fuel anti-Western sentiments, among members of the country's Muslim community, refusing to integrate into Western society, and inciting hatred against non-Muslims.

According to Belgian intelligence documents, 30 of the 300 mosques in Brussels are accused of spreading such ideas, adding that young Arab immigrants who have not yet integrated into society are a major target for recruitment by Islamic militants, as they are more vulnerable to being influenced by hostile ideas.

Intelligence problems

The report indicated that Willie Bruggeman, head of the Federal Police, announced on October 14, 2019, that there is no staff reserve if a new terrorist threat or major security crisis emerges; stressing that the Federal Police is unable to deal with it, and the statute is very strict.

At the same time, Philippe Claus, the mayor of Brussels, pointed to the urgent need to refinance the police, pointing out that very little money has been released in recent years, and that more monitoring has been invested in new cameras and intervention vehicles, but this is not enough.

The report notes that some believe that the joining of new elements into the police services is proceeding very slowly, especially as its schools graduate 1400 people each year, while the service ends 1700 in the same year.

ISIS and humanitarian visas

According to the center's report, some observers allude to fears that ISIS benefits from the humanitarian visas that Belgium has granted to some people and they have already succeeded in entering Brussels, and from there they can travel to other places to pose a great danger.

On January 16, 2019, the Belgian Minister of Immigration and Refugees Maggie Doblock confirmed her intention to work to reorganize the mechanisms for granting humanitarian visas to the country.

The report stressed the necessity of some restrictions on the freed militants, the continued observation of them, the increase in financial resources and services for the security services in the country, and the addition of new elements to the police services faster.