Brussels deradicalisation centres lose €1 million in grants

Molenbeek is one of a handful of Brussels municipalities that are looking for a solution after the federal government announced it would discontinue its €1 million in grants provided to the 10 communes in Belgium most affected by radicalisation, writes Bruzz.

Anderlecht, the City of Brussels, Molenbeek and Schaerbeek are the Brussels communes most affected by the budget cut, as they dealt with the largest number of radicalised youth and potential Syria fighters.

The withdrawal of the grant money does not come as a surprise, however, as it was presented last year by interior minister Jan Jambon as a one-off subsidy for the municipalities most affected by the problem of radicalisation.

In addition, the municipalities received an operating grant of €60,000 to recruit a deradicalisation offical. That subsidy will continue to exist.

"But we were hoping that the federal government would continue to free up funds to combat radicalisation at the local level. This is a long process, not something you solve in one fell swoop," says Molenbeek alderwoman Sarah Turine.

"We need a temporary solution,” says Turine. “Although we continue to hope that Minister Jambon will find new resources. This was a good way to keep track of families, but also to work closely with the social prevention services.”