“Around 30 Belgian mosques are subject to a Salafist influence,” or double the estimation made in 2001 in a report of the so-called Comité R (which monitors the information services), La Libre Belgique indicates on Friday.
It also states that it has obtained this estimate from a legitimate source.
The Belgian information service considers henceforth that Salafism has definitely become entrenched in the country, and indeed in various ways (whether with pietists, in politics or jihadists). This situation is particularly noticeable with the presence of imams or mosque leaders, groups of believers or indeed preachers of the Koran who are inspired by this highly stringent and conservative Islamic trend.
The majority of these mosques are not recognized and escape the State Security screening process, which is called upon to give its opinion each time a formal recognition case is submitted to the Muslim Executive. At the current time, only 13 mosques are recognized in the Brussels area, whilst there are at least around 70 in the Brussels-Capitale region and 320 across the country, states La Libre.
(Source:Belga)
