Sharp increase in recent years The Belgian state security body estimates that 450 persons in prisons have a risk profile in terms of Islamic radicalization according to a report in De Tijd on Friday (16 December).
The number of radicalized prisoners is difficult to determine precisely, according to Justice Minister Koen Geens (CD & V). Over the last two years, about 300 cases of radicalization have been reported in Belgian prisons.
About 115 prisoners are currently incarcerated for acts related to terrorism. The number of potentially radicalized prisoners is thus estimated to be four times higher.
A sharp increase in the number of radicalized prisoners took place between the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015 and does not coincide with the return of foreign fighters.
The report does not tell of what counter- radicalization and de-radicalization programmes, if any, have been put into place in the prisons.
The Brussels Times (Source: Belga)
