Brussels mosque arsonist sentenced to 27 years

A 38-year-old Moroccan man was sentenced on Friday by a court in Brussels to 27 years in prison for arson in the Rida mosque, the largest Shia mosque in Brussels, in March, 2012. An imam was killed in the fire.

The court found the arsonist guilty of arson causing death, possession of weapons and threats. As an aggravating factor, the court ruled that the attack had “religious motives”. The man, a Sunni, stated in an interview that he set fire to the mosque in order to “wake up the Shiites”, whom he holds responsible for the violence in Syria.

The offender set fire to the building during the evening prayer, causing the imam to suffocate to death while trying to put out the blaze. Three people were injured in the incident, two of whom were attacked with a knife and an axe while attempting to prevent the arson.

"His actions testify of extreme violence and a total lack of empathy towards the victims," said the court.