Asylum
The Immigration Office has asked the General Commissioner for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) to withdraw the recognition as a refugee of the Palestinian Mohammed Khatib, leader of the Samidoun organization. State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor (CD&V) said this.
The organization, which identifies itself as a “Solidarity Network for Palestinian Prisoners,” has branches across Europe. Mohammed Khatib is the European coordinator.
DVZ makes the decision based on information from the security services. Khatib is known as an extremist hate preacher. The CGRS now independently decides what should happen to the refugee status.
State Secretary De Moor says that there is no place in Belgium for people who pose a danger to society. “The asylum procedure is for those fleeing war or unjust persecution. Even if someone has already been recognized as a refugee but that person turns out to be an extremist, the recognition can be withdrawn.”
De Moor also indicates that the Migration Code that she is submitting to the government provides more room for maneuver for the Immigration Department and the government: they will be able to request the termination of an international protection status without restriction if there is fraud or new elements. It is already possible to request the withdrawal of recognition without restriction if someone poses a danger to society or national security.
