First it was Paris. Now it’s Brussels. After a massive jihadist terror attack, many are asking how radical Islam managed to create a Mecca in the epicenter of Europe. Home to both the European Commission and NATO, Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union.
When Muslim terrorists struck the city’s metro stations and airport, they brought the entire country to an absolute standstill. If it wasn’t clear before, it should be obvious now: There is an unmistakable jihadist tumor in the heart of Europe. In its suicidal effort to privilege political correctness above all else, the European (and American) Left has refused to diagnose this cancer, allowing it to metastasize throughout the West.
The attack on Tuesday signals the beginning of Europa’s slow and painful death. Here are 7 things you need to know about Islam in Brussels.
1. The capital of Belgium is also the jihadist capital of Europe. Islamic terrorist Salah Abdeslam fled to Brussels after attacking Paris. He was aided and embedded by Muslim locals. Belgian authorities caught Abdeslam over the weekend. Police believe the attack on Tuesday was a response to the arrest.
2. Belgium has the highest per capita of recruited fighters of any nation in Europe. Over 500 Muslims from Belgium have joined jihadist groups. Most come from Brussels.
3. Belgium-based Islamic extremism is highly concentrated in specific locales of Brussels, specifically, the Muslim-populated Molenbeek district. The small area contains 22 known mosques. Many of the Muslims that have joined jihad come from this district.
4. Parts of Brussels have been described as Muslim “no go zones.” Molenbeek has attracted over 600 extremist imams since 1980. Many in the small district follow Sharia law and shun outsiders.
5. 70% of Brussel’s population is foreign, namely immigrants Turkey, Morocco, and France. The multicultural nature of the city has prompted authorities to turn a blind eye to suspicious activity all in the service of “tolerance.”
6. Belgium’s population is small, coming in at just 11 million people. 6% of Belgium’s population is Muslim. That number is growing, even though it’s already higher than many European cities.
7. Brussels sits at the center of Europe’s debate on Muslim refugees. The city absorbed many Muslims fleeing Syria and Iraq. EU officials and German envoys, including Angela Merkel, have used Brussels as meeting ground to call for more Muslim refugees.