“We continue, unfortunately, to be marked by the dramatic attacks perpetrated in Paris, and realize the dangers that continue to weigh on us.” What kind of dangers? From what quarter? “He also appealed for tolerance, saying that a large majority of Belgians of immigrant backgrounds ‘share the values of our country,’ and that ‘they are the sons and daughters of this country.’” On what basis does he assert this? How does he know that the vast majority of Muslims in Belgium “share the values of our country,” when there is considerable evidence to the contrary?
“It seems important to me to return to the foundation of our society, to what we most wish to hold on to: our values and the rules of coexistence. This implies that we teach our children to respect different religions and philosophical convictions.” How does he plan to ensure that Muslims in Belgium teach respect for those Jews and Christians who do not convert to Islam, when the Qur’an calls them “the most vile of created beings” (98:6)?
“What they all share is the desire to give meaning to life, to respect others and to be open toward them.” To respect others? Really? The Qur’an says: “Muhammad is the apostle of Allah. Those who follow him are merciful to one another, harsh to unbelievers” (48:29).
“Respecting these common rules also implies zero tolerance toward hate speech. It means fighting, day after day, all forms of stigmatization and segregation, and helping people who are drawn to fanatical indoctrination to resist.” When the King refers to “hate speech,” “stigmatization and segregation,” he is almost certainly not referring to the hate speech coming from jihad preachers, but to those who dare raise questions about Muslim immigration in light of jihad and Sharia supremacism. In other words, he is warning Belgians against “Islamophobia.” Belgians must ignore what they see happening all around them and be “tolerant.” But will they, in turn, be “tolerated”?
“Ninth Person Is Detained in Belgium Over Paris Attacks,” by Sewell Chandec, New York Times, December 24, 2015:
LONDON — The investigation into the extensive involvement of Belgians in the Paris terrorist attacks widened on Thursday with news that a 30-year-old Belgian man had been arrested on terrorism charges.
It is virtually certain that none of the Muslims who were involved in the Paris jihad massacre thought of themselves as “Belgians,” even if they had been born there and lived there all their lives.
After weeks of withering criticism of Belgium’s government, the king appealed for unity on Thursday, while also warning that there would be “zero tolerance” of extremist preachers. At least 500 Belgians are believed to be fighting alongside Islamic State militants in Iraq or Syria — the most, as a proportion of the population, of any country in the European Union.
The man facing terrorism charges, identified only as Abdoullah C., was detained on Tuesday just outside the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels, where many of the attackers lived or had ties.
An investigative judge issued an arrest warrant for involvement with “terrorist murders and participation in the activities of a terrorist organization,” according to the federal prosecutor’s office in Brussels. Officials said they had not announced the arrest right away to avoid tipping off possible accomplices.
Abdoullah C. is the ninth man to face criminal charges in Belgium in connection with the Nov. 13 attacks, which killed 130 people.
In addition, a global manhunt continues for Salah Abdeslam, 26, a Belgian-born Frenchman believed to be the only direct participant in the attack who is still alive, and Mohamed Abrini, 30, who was seen on video driving with Mr. Abdeslam two days before the attacks.
The Paris attacks prompted intense scrutiny of ineffective and convoluted governance in Belgium, where a vast majority of the attackers had ties.
In his annual Christmas message, which was prerecorded but broadcast on Thursday, King Philippe offered exceptionally blunt remarks.
“We continue, unfortunately, to be marked by the dramatic attacks perpetrated in Paris, and realize the dangers that continue to weigh on us,” said the king, who as a constitutional monarch is required to stay above politics but who serves as the symbol of the nation.
Philippe said that Belgian authorities had “reacted with calm, speed and determination” to the terrorist threats, but he added, “The recent events proved how important it is to invest in justice, the police, the army and intelligence services.”
He also appealed for tolerance, saying that a large majority of Belgians of immigrant backgrounds “share the values of our country,” and that “they are the sons and daughters of this country.”
He continued: “It seems important to me to return to the foundation of our society, to what we most wish to hold on to: our values and the rules of coexistence. This implies that we teach our children to respect different religions and philosophical convictions. What they all share is the desire to give meaning to life, to respect others and to be open toward them. Respecting these common rules also implies zero tolerance toward hate speech. It means fighting, day after day, all forms of stigmatization and segregation, and helping people who are drawn to fanatical indoctrination to resist.”
Abdoullah C. appears to have been one of them. He is “suspected to have had several contacts” with Hasna Aitboulahcen, a 26-year-old cousin of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 28, the Belgian believed to have been the chief planner of the attacks, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Ms. Aitboulahcen, Mr. Abaaoud and another man were killed on Nov. 18, when French special police units stormed an apartment in the northern Paris suburb of St.-Denis, not far from the stadium where three attackers blew themselves up on Nov. 13….
The other eight people facing criminal charges in Belgium are:
■ Mohamed Amri and Hamza Attou, who are accused of being Mr. Abdeslam’s getaway drivers;
■ Abraimi Lazez and Ali Oulkadi, accused of helping Mr. Abdeslam after the attacks;
■ Abdellah Chouaa, who according to the French newsmagazine Le Point is the son of a well-known radical preacher in Brussels and who is suspected of being an associate of Mr. Abdeslam’s;
■ Mohamed Bakkali, who lived at a house in the Belgian town of Auvelais that may have been used as a hide-out;
■ Two men, identified only as Samir Z. and Pierre N., who are believed to have been friends of Bilal Hadfi, one of the attackers….