Tyr-Ziu Saxnot
02-11-2015, 11:02 AM
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/belgium-jails-islamist-group-members/ar-AA9eJ4G?ocid=iehp
Belgium jails Islamist group members
BBC News
A Belgian court has jailed the leader of a group that sent jihadists to Syria, in the largest-ever trial of its kind in the country.
The court in Antwerp found a total of 45 members of the Sharia4Belgium group guilty of terror-related offences.
The judge called the organisation "a terrorist group" and sentenced leader Fouad Belkacem to 12 years in prison.
The other 44 members were given sentences, some suspended, ranging between three and 12 years.
Jejoen Bontinck followed by his lawyer Kris Luyckx, arrives for the first day of the trial of radical Islamic group 'Sharia4Belgium' at the courthouse of Antwerp on 29 September 2014.: Jejoen Bontinck has appeared at the trial as a prosecution witness © Getty Images Jejoen Bontinck has appeared at the trial as a prosecution witness
The group sent recruits to militant groups such as Islamic State (IS), prosecutors said.
Only seven of the accused were at the court for the ruling. Most others were said to be fighting, or dead, in Syria.
One high-profile member, Jejoen Bontinck, got a suspended sentence of 40 months. He made headlines after his father travelled to Syria to bring him home, and appeared in the trial as a prosecution witness.
Officials say about 350 Belgians have gone to fight in Syria and Iraq, the highest number per capita in Europe.
They estimate that 10% of the Belgians who have gone to fight in Syria had links to Sharia4Belgium.
European security agencies fear that jihadists who return from those countries could mount attacks on domestic targets.
'Adolescent angst'
Belkacem, the ringleader of the now defunct Sharia4Belgium, smiled as the judge read out his ruling. He had denied the charges.
The judge said he was "responsible for the radicalisation of young men to prepare them for Salafist combat, which has at its core no place for democratic values".
Court sketch showing Sharia4Belgium accused: Only eight of the accused have appeared in court in Antwerp during the trial © AFP Only eight of the accused have appeared in court in Antwerp during the trial
The family of Jejoen Bontinck, now 20, said Jejoen was a victim of "grooming" by Sharia4Belgium, and denied he was a security threat.
Speaking earlier on Wednesday as they arrived at court, his father Dmitri Bontinck told reporters: "I didn't go and pick up my son in Syria, only to see him thrown in jail here."
He has argued that the group attracted youngsters while they were going through moments of adolescent angst.
Five other members were at the court on Wednesday, while one was represented by his lawyer, Belgian media reported.
The others were tried in absentia. Most - like 21-year-old Brian De Mulder - are still believed to be in Syria, or may already be dead
Freaking idiots... All found guilty should have been executed!
That's how to deal with these nests of vipers! Put them in prison they come out to go overseas to murder to het their revenge, kill the ffing maggots they can do no harm..
Stupid ass liberal Europeans, no wonder their dumbasses are in such a bad way now...-Tyr
Belgium jails Islamist group members
BBC News
A Belgian court has jailed the leader of a group that sent jihadists to Syria, in the largest-ever trial of its kind in the country.
The court in Antwerp found a total of 45 members of the Sharia4Belgium group guilty of terror-related offences.
The judge called the organisation "a terrorist group" and sentenced leader Fouad Belkacem to 12 years in prison.
The other 44 members were given sentences, some suspended, ranging between three and 12 years.
Jejoen Bontinck followed by his lawyer Kris Luyckx, arrives for the first day of the trial of radical Islamic group 'Sharia4Belgium' at the courthouse of Antwerp on 29 September 2014.: Jejoen Bontinck has appeared at the trial as a prosecution witness © Getty Images Jejoen Bontinck has appeared at the trial as a prosecution witness
The group sent recruits to militant groups such as Islamic State (IS), prosecutors said.
Only seven of the accused were at the court for the ruling. Most others were said to be fighting, or dead, in Syria.
One high-profile member, Jejoen Bontinck, got a suspended sentence of 40 months. He made headlines after his father travelled to Syria to bring him home, and appeared in the trial as a prosecution witness.
Officials say about 350 Belgians have gone to fight in Syria and Iraq, the highest number per capita in Europe.
They estimate that 10% of the Belgians who have gone to fight in Syria had links to Sharia4Belgium.
European security agencies fear that jihadists who return from those countries could mount attacks on domestic targets.
'Adolescent angst'
Belkacem, the ringleader of the now defunct Sharia4Belgium, smiled as the judge read out his ruling. He had denied the charges.
The judge said he was "responsible for the radicalisation of young men to prepare them for Salafist combat, which has at its core no place for democratic values".
Court sketch showing Sharia4Belgium accused: Only eight of the accused have appeared in court in Antwerp during the trial © AFP Only eight of the accused have appeared in court in Antwerp during the trial
The family of Jejoen Bontinck, now 20, said Jejoen was a victim of "grooming" by Sharia4Belgium, and denied he was a security threat.
Speaking earlier on Wednesday as they arrived at court, his father Dmitri Bontinck told reporters: "I didn't go and pick up my son in Syria, only to see him thrown in jail here."
He has argued that the group attracted youngsters while they were going through moments of adolescent angst.
Five other members were at the court on Wednesday, while one was represented by his lawyer, Belgian media reported.
The others were tried in absentia. Most - like 21-year-old Brian De Mulder - are still believed to be in Syria, or may already be dead
Freaking idiots... All found guilty should have been executed!
That's how to deal with these nests of vipers! Put them in prison they come out to go overseas to murder to het their revenge, kill the ffing maggots they can do no harm..
Stupid ass liberal Europeans, no wonder their dumbasses are in such a bad way now...-Tyr