BRUSSELS — Justice Minister Laurette Onkelinx has requested the federal government recruit 83 staff for the Belgian security service VS.

Some of the new recruits would be required to know Arabic, newspaper ‘Het Gazet van Antwerpen’ reported on Tuesday.

And to further strengthen the fight against terrorism, Onkelinx urged public prosecution departments to crack down on subversive Muslim imams.

She said imams could be prosecuted based on the currently disused article 268 of Belgian criminal law.

That article allows a three-month jail term and a EUR 2,750 fine for spiritual leaders — and thus imams also — who attack Belgian institutes.

The Socialist PS minister also urged for regulations allowing Moroccan imams to preach in Belgium only if they have followed a course of study in the North African nation.

[Copyright Expatica News 2005]

Subject: Belgian news