The Brussels Court of Appeal’s decision to suspend the extradition of Salah Abdeslam was unlawful, according to a ruling by Belgium’s supreme court.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling has been annulled and referred back to the Mons Court of Appeal.
Following the Brussels attacks trial, Abdeslam’s lawyers launched legal proceedings to have him serve his sentences in Belgium. They argued that, due to his life sentence in France for his role in the Paris attacks, Abdeslam faced inhumane or degrading treatment.
In October 2023, the Brussels Court of Appeal had provisionally halted Abdeslam’s return, citing potential conflicts with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Court of Cassation has rejected this reasoning and sent the case back to Mons.
Despite the ongoing legal process, Abdeslam was extradited to France in February 2024.
