Nearly 500 Belgians imprisioned abroad, Foreign ministry confirms

At least 489 Belgian nationals are currently being held in prisons abroad, Het Nieuwsblad and Het Belang van Limburg report, citing the most recent data from the Federal Public Service (FPS) for Foreign Affairs.

However, the FPS notes that these figures are likely to be incomplete, as it is not always informed when a Belgian citizen is detained overseas. Most prisoners abroad are incarcerated in neighbouring countries, including France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.

The number of Belgians held abroad has fluctuated in recent years. In 2023, 504 Belgians were imprisoned outside the country, compared to 426 at the end of 2022 and 372 the previous year.

^{© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}

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