Belgium has granted prison leave to Mohamed Bakkali, one of the men convicted for his role in the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks that killed 130 people.
A Brussels court ruled that Bakkali, currently serving a 30-year sentence in Ittre prison south of the capital, may temporarily leave detention under specific conditions. According to Belgian prosecutors, the decision was taken despite their opposition and cannot be appealed, making it final. Responsibility for implementing the ruling now lies with prison authorities.
Under the court’s decision, Bakkali will be allowed to leave prison up to six times, each for a period of 36 hours. Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden defended the move, stating that the leave was granted only after a thorough review and would be subject to strict conditions. She also noted that Bakkali had previously been allowed shorter periods of temporary release.
Bakkali was identified as the logistics coordinator of the November 13th, 2015 attacks in Paris, in which coordinated shootings and bombings targeted multiple locations, including the Bataclan concert hall. In 2022, a French court sentenced him to 30 years in prison for providing material support to the attackers, including renting safe houses, securing vehicles, and obtaining false identity documents.
He was also sentenced in Belgium to 25 years in prison for his involvement in a separate attack on a high-speed train traveling to Paris, which left two passengers injured. Belgian authorities had transferred him to France for trial on the condition that he would return to serve his sentence in Belgium.
