Turkish intelligence services end co-operation over mosque row
Controversy over possible withdrawal of recognition of a mosque in Limburg has led to a breach in relations with Turkey, the head of Belgium’s state security has said
Leaked documents
Earlier this month, integration minister Liesbeth Homans addressed the question of a possible withdrawal of the official recognition of the mosque in Beringen, part of the Diyanet network of Turkish mosques, which promote a conservative version of Islam. Later, a report by state security was leaked to the press, which Homans claimed supported withdrawal.
Opposition socialists were angry about the leaking of confidential documents and argued that the credibility of State Security had been undermined. State Security itself said Homans was misreading their report, which was not in support of withdrawal of recognition.
The breach in relations with Turkish intelligence could have serious consequences, according to an anonymous security source quoted in De Morgen. “In the past it has happened that the Turks have provided very useful information on the whereabouts of Syria fighters and potential terrorists,” the source said. “Now if members of our state security services call their Turkish colleagues with a question, the answer is likely to be, ‘Figure it out for yourselves’.”
Photo courtesy De Standaard
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