What could possibly go wrong? Celebrate diversity! Why, all sorts of steps were taken while they were in prison to disabuse them of their jihadist convictions and ensure that they would become loyal, stable, productive members of Belgian society, right? Actually, nothing of that kind was done, at least nothing effective, for to have attempted anything of that kind would have been “Islamophobic.”
“60 convicted radicals and terrorists to be released by end 2021,” by Alan Hope, Brussels Times, May 6, 2020:
This year and next, a total of 60 prisoners convicted of terrorism and others who are known to have become radicalised are due to be released from prison, according to figures given by federal justice minister Koen Geens (CD&V).
There will be 33 releases this year, and 27 before the end of 2021, Geens said. Two of the prisoners will be resident in Brussels, 26 in Flanders and 32 in Wallonia.
Geens was replying to a parliamentary question from Vlaams Belang MP Marijke Dillen.
The prisoners concerned have served their original sentence and are not being released on parole, but Geens stressed that they will be kept under surveillance.
“When it comes to convicts who have reached the end of their sentences, a final report is prepared for the security partners that is useful in the follow-up of these persons. Convicts who leave prison through a ‘sentence-execution mode’ such as an ankle bracelet or parole, are followed up by the network of justice houses, which is a responsibility of the communities.”
However, recent research suggests that the risk of them offending again is small….