Belgium

Legal

Ex-soccer star accused of plotting terror with Osama bin Laden found not guilty Nizar Trabelsi was previously convicted in Belgium for planning to attack the Kleine-Brogel Air Base, where U.S. military staff are stationed. He was later extradited to the U.S. for trial.

July 14, 2023 and   

(NBC) In a rare and shocking development, an accused foreign Islamic terrorist was found not guilty Friday by a jury in federal court after a trial on charges he conspired with Osama bin Laden to conduct a suicide bombing on Americans in […]

Government & Politics

Belgium summons UAE ambassador over ‘Muslim Brotherhood smear campaign’ Emirati intelligence paid millions to Swiss company to create files on over 1,000 people in Europe, according to data leak

July 9, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) Belgium summoned the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador in Brussels on Friday, following reports of the Gulf state’s alleged involvement in a smear campaign that sought to link at least 1,000 individuals in Europe to the Muslim Brotherhood. The […]

Government & Politics

Minister in Brussels region government resigns over Tehran mayor invite Pascal Smet was criticized for inviting the ultra-conservative mayor of Tehran to the Brussels Urban Summit.

June 18, 2023   

(Politico) Pascal Smet, foreign affairs minister of the region of Brussels, resigned on Sunday after coming under fire last week for inviting the ultra-conservative mayor of Tehran to the Brussels Urban Summit. “I have decided to resign,” Smet, who is also urban […]

Government & Politics

Belgium swaps convicted terrorist to free aid worker jailed in Iran ‘Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium,’ PM Alexander De Croo says.

May 26, 2023 , and   

(Politico) Iran has released Olivier Vandecasteele, a Belgian humanitarian worker who had been detained in Iran for more than a year, in exchange for convicted terrorist Assadollah Assadi, who had been imprisoned in Belgium. “Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium,” […]

Legal

Soccer star tied to al-Qaida begins terror trial in US Jailed since 2001, Nizar Trabelsi goes to trial here on charges related to ones he faced abroad: the plot to attack a NATO airbase in Belgium.

May 15, 2023   

(Courthouse News) A former professional European soccer player convicted in Belgium 20 years ago of planning a suicide bombing attack on Americans in Europe appeared in U.S. federal court on Monday to begin his jury trial. Opening arguments began with the prosecution […]

Legal

Key Hezbollah financier, a ‘global terrorist,’ faces charges in New York Mohammad Bazzi extradited from Romania, arraigned in federal court for alleged financial fraud and conspiracy; investigators say he funneled millions to Lebanese terror group

April 26, 2023   

(Times of Israel) An alleged financier for the Hezbollah terrorist organization was arraigned in a federal court in New York City on Wednesday. Mohammad Bazzi has been accused of funneling millions of dollars to the Lebanese terror group. The US Justice Department […]

Government & Politics

Belgium’s top court reopens door for contentious prisoner-swap deal with Iran The deal could allow an exchange between a Belgian aid worker jailed in Iran and an Iranian diplomat convicted for terrorism in Belgium.

March 3, 2023 and   

(Politico) Belgium’s highest court on Friday overturned a freeze on a controversial treaty on prisoner exchanges that could allow an Iranian diplomat convicted of terrorism to be sent back to Tehran. The treaty would allow Iranians convicted in Belgium to serve their […]