Morocco-Belgium Extradition Deal: 132 Moroccan Inmates Sent Home, Reshaping Prison Demographics

According to the competent central authority within the FPS Justice, these transfers of Moroccan inmates to their country of origin are subject to very strict conditions. This explains the low transfer rate to the kingdom, although many Moroccans are serving their sentences in Belgian prisons. In 2023, 894 Moroccans were staying in Belgian prisons, representing 7.8% of the Belgian prison population and the second largest nationality in prison after Belgians (56.4%).

However, Moroccan inmates will not be able to be transferred to their country of origin if they were born in Belgium or resided there before the age of 12. The Belgian authorities will also not be able to send them back against their will if they have refugee status, if they have legally resided on Belgian territory for five consecutive years, or if they are parents of at least one child habitually residing in Belgium.

The agreement also provides that the Moroccan inmate will remain in Belgium if he meets all the conditions to obtain Belgian nationality, if he is married to a Belgian national, if he has been the victim of a work accident or occupational disease in Belgium, or if he suffers from an illness that cannot be treated in Morocco.

This agreement aims to promote the social reintegration of Moroccan inmates in their country of origin and allow the return of Belgian inmates to Belgium. Some 232 Moroccans in an irregular situation, including 132 in detention in Belgian prisons (or about 1% of the prison population), were sent back to Morocco in 2024, Annelies Verlinden (CD&V), the Belgian Minister of Justice, said in March, assuring that "this way of proceeding will be continued".