Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

Figures released by the Belgian Ministry of Justice indicate that in 2025, the average number of inmates from the 24 countries of the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Turkey (MENAPT) group reached 2,559.5. In a statement, Ortuyn Depoorter of the far-right Vlaams Belang party, chairman of the parliamentary committee on internal affairs, who requested these figures from Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (Democrats Party), explained: "MENAPT is a statistical acronym for the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Turkey. Out of a total prison population of 13,043, this represents 19.6%, or almost one in five. Anyone who doesn't want to study these figures seriously is deliberately ignoring the truth." The statement, a copy of which we received, added that the high proportion of citizens from the three Maghreb countries is particularly striking. In 2025, the average number of Moroccans was 1,106, Algerians 660, and Tunisians 246. Together, they represent 78.6% of the MENAPT group and 15.4% of the total prison population. “These are official figures from the Ministry of Justice,” says Deporter. “Nearly one in five prisoners holds nationality from Middle Eastern, North African, and Portuguese countries, and more than one in seven are Moroccan, Algerian, or Tunisian. The trend is also striking. Since 2021, the average number of prisoners from Middle Eastern, North African, and Portuguese countries has increased by 34%, compared to around 25% for the overall prison population. The number of convicted prisoners within this group has even increased by 54%.”

Deporter obtained these figures following an extensive parliamentary inquiry involving several federal ministers into the registration of nationality and origin. Verlinden had previously cited legal objections regarding the registration of origin, but she now herself confirms that the Prison Information System (SIDIS Suite) database is capable of statistically classifying nationalities. Interior Minister Bernard Quentin (of the Republican Movement) also confirmed that the police can make selections based on the nationalities of Middle Eastern, North African, and Portuguese nationalities.

Furthermore, Labor and Economy Minister David Clarinval (of the Republican Movement) confirmed that his department even collaborates with the parents' country of birth and origin to conduct labor market research. Deporter says: "It seems the government can investigate the origins of immigrants in the labor market, but as soon as we start investigating crimes, it resorts to discrimination and privacy. This excuse is no longer acceptable."

He adds: "This policy of turning a blind eye must end. Measurement is the path to knowledge."

Moreover, the new prison statistics are based solely on registered nationality and therefore do not show the number of Belgian detainees of Moroccan, Algerian, Turkish, or other Middle Eastern and North African origin. Therefore, after the parliamentary recess, Depoortier intends to take further initiatives to urge the government to conduct thorough statistical research into the migration backgrounds of all prison inmates. He concludes, "We don't want to discriminate against anyone based on their origin, but anyone who wants to combat crime must have the courage to measure and identify patterns. This policy of turning a blind eye must end. Measurement is the path to knowledge."

It is worth noting that some political parties and media outlets sometimes focus on the connection between foreigners and crime, while at other times overlooking the achievements and successes of foreigners or people of foreign origin in Belgium, from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and other countries, in various fields, including sports, medicine, engineering, politics, law, social work, and more. Belgium's current population is approximately 12 million, of whom more than 2 million are foreign nationals, constituting roughly 20% of the population.