Eerdekens calls for measures against returning Belgian jihadists

Eerdekens calls for measures against returning Belgian jihadists

Islamic jihadists returning to Belgium from Syria and elsewhere pose a serious threat to Belgium, according to Andenne alderman Claude Eerdekens, who also pointed out that at least three of them were believed to be living in the Province of Namur. He sent a letter to Home Secretary Jan Jambon and Secretary of State for Justice Koen Geens. In his view, they should take immediate measures to protect our country’s national security.

Three jihadist back from Syria are currently residing in Dinant, Namur, and in Basse Sambre, in the Province of Namur. On the basis of information he gathered from the members present at a meeting of provincial aldermen last November, Claude Eerdekens reveals that “these jihadists are all walking free in Belgium”. He adds that “over 100 fighters are believed to have returned from Syria - maybe 200 nationwide and hundreds of other young people are said to be willing to travel to Syria and other distant countries to fight”. For him, it is “unbelievable that people who went to fight in Syria, to commit mass murder and what can only be called genocide, should be allowed to return to our country and walk around as free men.”   

He describes them as “time bombs”. He fears that, sooner or later, as a result of “our country’s permissive politics”, Belgian citizens might face events similar to those in Paris last week. He believes that, in the aftermath of the recent terror attacks in France, there is an urgent need for safety measures to be implemented and exemplary sanctions to be enforced in Belgium. To prove his point, he reminds us of the heavy price paid in the past - when a French terrorist back from Syria shot four people dead at Brussels Jewish Museum.

(Source: Belga)  


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