French Justice Minister warns Belgian release of terror logistics convict would insult victims
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin wrote to Belgium’s justice minister, saying that freeing the convicted logistics provider for the attacks would disrespect the victims.
Mohamed Bakkali, sentenced to thirty years with a two-thirds safety clause in France, is now eligible for conditional release in Belgium, where he serves his term. The Belgian system could allow him to leave prison under electronic monitoring. French victims of the attacks protested the prospect, prompting Darmanin to send a letter to his Belgian counterpart, Annelies Verlinden, asserting that such a release would be an affront to their suffering.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights cross-border legal tensions over the handling of convicted terrorists and the sensitivities of victims.
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