Former Sharia4Belgium chief seeks Belgian asylum as prison term ends

Fouad Belkacem, who founded and led the terrorist organization Sharia4Belgium, has submitted an asylum application to Belgian authorities. Convicted in 2015 and sentenced to 12 years, his term will finish in 2027, after which he could be released. Because his conviction stripped him of Belgian citizenship, he is technically subject to extradition to Morocco, his remaining nationality.

The Office of the Commissioner-General for Refugees and Stateless Persons will now handle his case as a priority. Officials note that he behaved well in prison, receiving temporary leave permits without incident. He is married to a Belgian woman and is the father of three children living in Belgium.