Can someone explain the logic of Belgium's choices for me?

Question

PKK/KongraGel is internationally acknowledged to be a terrorist organization. Simultanous operations were organized in Europe to cut the money sources (mostly illegal) of the organization. In Belgium, leaders of the organization were first arrested, then given political refugee status and released.

I can't grasp the logic behind this. Belgium also has been harboring the killers of a very prominent businessman (who had no political standing whatsoever) for years. Why is Belgium protecting terrorists? And not controversial ones at that, terrorists that are internationally known as terrorists.

Or has terror become "freedom of thought" for Belgian authorities? I'm sure there is a logic behind this. Please let me understand.

Following up on Ron's comment: so, is it OK to harbor terror if you feel sympathy for the perpetrator? For example, if a portion of the population in a country feels for the "Muslim sufferers around the world", is it OK for that country to support, say, El Kaide? If that is so, why was Afghanistan invaded?

Also, do the Belgians feel it is OK for the PKK terrorists to bomb ordinary people, even children, at a bus stop in Istanbul?

Answer 1

Well, i'll try to answer it. The only thing I know is that terrorist Feriyeh Erdal (DHKPC) was going to stand trial in Belgium, but the police failed to keep an eye on her and she fled away, no one knows where she is now. The other terrorists who helped her are convicted to jail for their assistence.

I don't know enough about PKK to make a verdict about that organisation, but in Belgium lots of people have positive feelings towards the Kurdisch independence movement. Lots of political engaged people as on the left or rightwing, have the opinion that the Kurds should be granted a kind of autonomy, or even independence.

greetings

Comments on the askers' remarks:

I didn't intend to give a justification for terrorism. As I stated above, I didn't know much about PKK and the Belgium government's stance regarding this organisation. Indeed this Belgian administration did create a law to tackle terrorism in a more appropriate way. In the past, there have been trials against muslim terrorist organisations, and above I already stressed the conviction of Kurdish terrorist movement DHKPC. It is probably this movements members that you meant to be 'harboured' by the government.

I looked it up for you, and PKK is indeed on the list of terrorist organisations, so prosecution of members of PKK is possible in Belgium. I am unaware of the PKK-leaders that were given a political refugee status. Can you give their names, so I can search for more information that was released in the Belgian press? I hope I will be able then to resolve your question.

Anyway, I don't want to give a justification for terrorism, i just try to explain your question. I think it has a lot to do with psychology and how Belgian and Turkish media report different about this matter. What 'may' have led to the political refugee status is the deep distrust of Belgian authorities against the Turkish government when it comes to the point of human rights. I found a parlementary question directed to a minister about this matter. altough it's dates already back to 1996, it is clear and it may help to explain the distrust against Turkey, and why Belgium is rather reluctant to hand over terrorists to Turkey. I translate a few passages.

extract question of the Member of parliament:
" The annual report of Amnesty International reports the capture of hundreds of political prisoners. There are lots of reports of torturing by the police. Out-of-law executions and disappearances increase since 1990 in a terrifying pace. Through torture, military discipline and isolation, is tried to break the people and to destroy there identity. The Turkish repression is directed towards the Kurdish population, but also towards human right defenders and liberals".

extract response of the ministre:
"The situation in Turkey is to be problematic. Still there a lots of abuses, [...], their reports testify of disappearances after arrests. from torture whilst interrogations by the police, of violence and murder in the prisons, of limitation of free speech, of violention of human rights in the struggle against terrorism, of the burning of villages and forced movements"

But there can be no justification for terrorism. If the people you stated above are really terrorists, I agree that they should stand trial in Belgium. I just can't believe that Belgian government has an other idea about that. Just give me more information and i'll respond your queston. Greetings

Answer 2

The logic of Belgium's choice is simply : the law.
As long as someone is not convicted he is supposed to be innocent. This is in most of the countries so where there is no dictator.
When they where arrested, some lawyers went in appeal against it. So till their was a verdict they were free. At the same moment they asked political refugee status.
At this moment these people are convicted and arrested except one women that escaped.
As simple as that. Belgium is against all terrorism coming from groups or states.

Answer 3

We are all asking the same question. Some people just don't believe that there are terrorists.

Answer 4

Belgium is risking war with the world. A war I'm not sure she can win.

Answer 5

those belgiques are strange ducks.