Belgium revokes asylum status of Palestinian activist Mohammed Khatib
The Belgian Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) has revoked the refugee status of Mohammed Khatib, the European coordinator of the controversial pro-Palestinian organisation Samidoun. The Palestinian, who has been in Belgium since 2015, intends to appeal against the decision of the CGRS.
The Belgian authorities point to his activities within the organisation, which describes itself as an international network of solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. According to the newspaper Le Soir, Khatib is registered by the Belgian Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (CUTA) as a “hate preacher”. Last year, the Immigration Office (IO) had already requested that his refugee status be revoked.
The government considers Samidoun to be an extremist and radical organisation. Just before the summer recess, the government approved a preliminary draft law by interior minister Bernard Quintin prohibiting the activities of radical organisations in Belgium. “Organisations such as Samidoun glorify terrorist organisations and atrocities, but ensure that they are never caught red-handed inciting hatred,” said prime minister Bart De Wever at the time.
Samidoun has regularly attracted attention since the start of Israel's bloody war in the Gaza Strip. Jewish associations have warned several times about the organisation's activities. In November 2023, Samidoun was banned in Germany for spreading anti-Semitism and glorifying terrorist movements, including Hamas.
Palestinian activist Mohammed Khatib © PHOTO ANP/Hollandse Hoogte/ Manon Bruininga
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