(Brussels Times) Belgium’s Muslim Executive has responded angrily to accusations aired this week of Moroccan intelligence infiltration of the Great Mosque in Brussels.
The mosque, in Cinquantenaire park in Brussels, had applied for recognition as a local faith community, after losing its status because the government considered it was unduly under the influence of Saudi Arabian extremists.
But justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD) withheld recognition, claiming that the mosque is now under the influence of Moroccan state intelligence, members of which hold posts within the mosque’s administration.
“We deny all allegations of so-called foreign interference and espionage, which are completely unfounded,” the Executive said in a statement.
