Belgian Government Moves to Dissolve Muslim Executive Body Amid Controversy

On the VRT radio, Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne announced his decision to initiate the procedure for withdrawing the recognition of the Executive of Muslims of Belgium (EMB), explaining that this official body responsible for the Muslim community in the country "can no longer be an interlocutor".

"The EMB is particularly criticized for its lack of transparency and its permeability to the influences of foreign powers, mainly Turkish and Moroccan," according to a report by the State Security which had also linked its president Mehmet Ütsün to extremism a few months ago.

For the Minister of Justice, the wait has been very long, which is why he has decided to initiate the procedure for withdrawing the official recognition of the Executive, which will also lead to the end of its state subsidy. "The organization is not representative of all Muslims in our country. We see an older generation that has lost all contact with young Muslims. This is detrimental to modern Islam," explained Vincent Van Quickenborne.

However, the minister recalls that the federated entities can still recognize mosques individually. The EMB, which receives some 600,000 euros in subsidies per year for this purpose, will have the right to respond as part of this withdrawal procedure.