Around 60 soldiers showing sign of radicalisation are being surveyed by military intelligence services, La Libre Belgique reported on Friday. This report is based on a written statement by Defence Minister Steven Vandeput (New Flemish Alliance), in response to a parliamentary question.
Military Intelligence services are surveying “around 60 defence members behaving suspiciously”. These include 55 soldiers and 5 low ranking officers “who have been identified as radicalised Muslims”, Vandeput said in his reply.
The service “verifies whether the ideas and behaviour of Defence personnel contradicts the army’s ideals/and or missions”, the Minister says. He added “freedom of religion is a fundamental right”.
However, up until now, “no soldier has been dismissed for Islamic extremism”, and “all soldiers possibly concerned have left the army of their accord or were let go for other reasons”, the Minister added.
(Source: Belga)
