Netherlands: Holocaust Museum Will Not Welcome Kanye West- "A Bridge Too Far"

America's most famous anti-Semite, Kanye West, aka Ye, is performing two concerts in the Netherlands tonight and Monday in Arnhem. The Jewish community is angry, not so much the Dutch authorities and the mayor of Arnhem, Ahmed Marcouch. The concerts will go on, but when Mayor Marcouch announced a plan to bring West for a wreath-laying at the national Holocaust Museum, the museum decided that was a "bridge too far ".

The below article from NOS (nl) is translated by Fousesquawk.

NOS News-Today 21:07, updated today 21:16

Holocaust Museum will not cooperate with the Ye visit, protest at Gelredome against the rapper

The National Holocaust Museum does not intend to cooperate with a visit by the controversial rapper, Ye (formerly Kanye West). The museum says it is "unpleasantly surprised" by an invitation to the rapper from the Mayor of Arnhem, Ahmed Marcouch.

Ye is in the Netherlands for two concerts in the Gelredome in Arnhem. Prior to his appearance this evening, demonstrators gathered in front of the stadium with banners with references to his earlier expressions and actions of the rapper.

Two men were arrested prior to the concert on suspicion of disturbing public order. They were taken to the police station. The police announced that they were not demonstrators.

According to the ANP news bureau, three people were also turned away by the police. They carried signs with conspiracy theories about the Holocaust and tried to take them to the protest by several Jewish organizations against the appearance by Ye.

The controversial artist made several statements on several occasions in the past that were anti-Semitic or glorifying of Nazism. Last year, for example, he released the song, "Heil Hitler", sold t-shirts with the swastika, and claimed 8 years ago that "400 years of slavery was a choice." 

Caption: Visitors prior to the concert by Ye, who is appearing in the Netherlands for the first time since 2013. 

Marcouch invited Ye to visit the National Holocaust Museum with him and lay a wreath together with the chief rabbi. Ye has not yet responded.

"Undesired impact"

The museum does not want to lend any cooperation to the possible visit. "This has an undesired impact on other visitors and also raises concern over the integrity of this memorial location," a spokesperson from the Jewish Cultural Quarter and the National  Holocaust Museum announces. 

The museum states that it will not "be a platform" to better an image damaged by anti-Semitic statements. "A visit to the museum alone is not enough to change the views. Unfortunately, more is needed." 

Marcouch has since nuanced his words. In a response to the ANP news bureau, he says that he did not want to go to the Holocaust Museum with the rapper, "per se". According to him, the museum "has reviewed what could be done", but there was no concrete plan as yet. Marcouch calls it, "regrettable that all directions still seem to go to the Holocaust Museum

First Netherlands appearance since 2013

This evening, Ye is appearing before 40,000 people in the Gelredome. It is his first appearance in the Netherlands since 2013. On Monday, on his 49th birthday, there is a second concert planned.

The Central Jewish Council (CJO) filed an injunction against the appearance of the rapper Ye in Arnhem. The court ruled that the artist did not need to be barred from the Netherlands, and his concert could go on.

Mayor Marcouch earlier announced that it was up to the triangle (the municipality, police, and the public prosecutor) to determine "how and when" there would be intervention if something punishable happened during the concert.

California Elections: Same Old-Same Old

 The California primaries are over, and after months of encouraging news about the candidacies of Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco for Governor (both Republicans) and Spencer Pratt (R) for LA mayor, it looks like things are going back to normal. Unlike most other states, where the results are known on election night, California's will drag on for days or weeks because of little things like mail-in ballots, ballot harvesting, and the amazing ability of Democratic candidates to overtake the Republicans in the late stages of the election, which causes many, like myself, to suspect voter fraud. The top two vote-getters for governor and LA mayor will face off in November.

In the governor's race, there were over 60 candidates, including Eric Swalwell, who dropped out to spend more time with Fang Fang and his attorneys, Barack Obama Shaw, and some guy named For God and Country. For most of the primary campaign, it looked like Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco might finish 1 and 2, which would have put them in an all-Republican runoff in November. In LA, Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the Pacific Palisades fire, looked like he might come in first against incumbent Karen Bass, who presided over the whole catastrophe (albeit from afar in Ghana), and ultra liberal city councilwoman Nithya Raman.  At this point, Bass has secured the first-place position (go figure), and Pratt is battling it out with Raman for the 2nd place runoff position. Meanwhile, back in Sacramento, Xavier Becerra (D), who has a 3-decade track record of filling many positions and doing nothing, garnered the most votes. Hilton is still fighting ultra-liberal billionaire Tom Steyer for the 2nd runoff spot. In short, the betting money is that Becerra will be the next Gavin Newsom in California, while Bass will be the next Karen Bass in LA.  Both will benefit from inheriting the votes for the other Democrats who lost out in the primary.

So it seems nothing is going to change. California will remain a one-party state. The only good news to come out of this, as far as I can predict, will be that neither Eric Swalwell nor Katie Porter will be our governor.

    

Switzerland: Man Yelling, "Allahu Akhbar" Stabs 3 in Winterthur

-Blick

Today in Winterthur, Switzerland, a 31-year-old Swiss-Turkish (dual citizen) man stabbed 3 people at the train station while yelling, "Allahu Akhbar". All 3 victims were seriously injured. The man was arrested and is identified as Nesip Dedeler. In addition, he had just been released from a psychiatric facility the day before when a doctor judged that he posed no danger.

Swiss police advise the man is known for spreading pro-ISIS propaganda and was associated with a radical mosque, which is now closed.

A short video clip of the man running down the street can be viewed here. (Telegraph UK) Note how he charges through a line of kids. Thank God, none were hurt.

The article below from the German-language Blick is translated by Fousesquawk. Note: In the interest of time, only the first several paragraphs are translated. Time permitting, we will finish it later today. The psychiatric facility states that a review of its procedure is in progress. In addition, local Islamic leaders have condemned the attack.

3 people seriously injured- just released yesterday from psychiatric care-Doctor saw no danger

Nesip Dedeler is the knife attacker in Winterthur

He had contact with the Islamist scene, was reported for violating the ban on ISIS, and on Thursday, Nesip Dedeler stabbed several people in Winterthur. This is everything known about him.

Posted 14:55, updated 7 minutes ago

Switzerland is shocked. The news of a knife attack at the Winterthur train station spread quickly over the entire country. We are also learning more and more about the perpetrator. During the act, the man shouted, "Allahu Akhbar" (God is greater). Investigation shows that the man was active in the Islamist scene. That is confirmed by the Cantonal Police in Zurich.

At the press conference with Government Councilor Mario Fehr and Police Commander Marius Weyermann, more was revealed about the 31-year-old man. The man is Nesip Dedeler (31). His family comes from Turkey. He was naturalized in 2009.

In our own behalf

In this case, Blick is giving the full and correct name of the knife attacker in Winterthur, Nesip Dedeler, and shows it without censorship bars. The authorities, with the Zurich police director as the central voice, describe the act as an "act of terror". In such a case, we give the name of the alleged terrorist as a contemporary, historical (public) person. 

In 2024, he applied for a renewal of his passport but never showed up, Fehr reports. In August 2024, he left Switzerland and was traveling in Turkey. "Then he disappeared for two years," said Fehr.

Connection to An'Nur Mosque

Dedeler belonged to a group, from whom several young people were later charged and some convicted. This was first reported by SRF (Swiss Radio and Television). For example, his name surfaced in investigations into the so-called youth group of the subsequently closed mosque, An'Nur. In the notorious mosque, among other things, an imam called for violence against "bad Muslims".

The Cantonal Police of Zurich confirm that he is a dual Swiss-Turkish citizen. The man's two brothers have also shown up in investigations as being radicalized. Furthermore, he was sent videos and songs with radical content from the (radical) scene. The suspect has also come to the attention of the authorities for spreading Islamist propaganda and trying to persuade others to join the jihad. "Violating the ban on ISIS. He spread IS propaganda," Marius Wyermann from the Cantonal Police explains.

Treatment in clinic

The 31-year-old man, according to authorities, was also "psychiatrically disturbed". On May 25 of this year, he reported to the city police, says Marius Wyermann at the press conference. "He made incoherent statements," said the police commander. He was admitted to the integrated psychiatric ward in Winterthur (IPW). That corresponds also with observations of a neighbor, who told Blick that on Whitsuntide Monday, police officers were seen at Dedeler's apartment. On Tuesday, May 26, he left the IPW and was again visited by police and taken back. On Wednesday, one day before the bloody act at the train station, a doctor gave a diagnosis that Dedeler represented no danger to himself or others. He was free to leave the facility...............................................

*Update: Below is the translation of the remainder of the above article:

Psychiatric facility confirms professional assessment

On its website, the psychiatric clinic in Winterthur confirms that Dedeler was treated in the IPW. "The IPW is deeply concerned about the events," it further states. Furthermore, it confirms that the man left on his own volition on May 27. At that time, a psychiatric examination by a specialist determined that his mental state posed no danger to himself or others. 

The IPW is supporting the ongoing investigations and has also initiated an external administrative investigation. This will, among things, examine the processes and responsibilities that led to the man's release.

Blick speaks with neighbors

Dedeler seems not to have had much contact with his neighbors. One of his neighbors describes him in a conversation with Blick as rather withdrawn. As to the question if he had had contact with the man, he says, "Not really. Maybe 3 words in the stairwell in all the years." His mother, however, with whom the 31-year-lived, is, "a kind person," says the neighbor. He has had more contact with her. "She has also taken care of our cat".

There isn't really anything that he remembers about him. "Always when I saw him, he was sitting on the balcony on the computer drinking Red Bull and smoking- that's the feeling I get," he says. He really didn't know how deeply the man who lived next door to him was connected to Islamism.

An acquaintance from school knew more. Manuel T.* (28) told Blick: "He was quiet, withdrawn, and didn't talk much. He and his brother were radicalized at the An'Nur Mosque."

"Be vigilant, report radicalization tendencies."

Zurich Security Director Mario Fehr spoke at a press conference Thursday afternoon, specifically of a "terror act" at the Winterthur train station.

The Islamic Central Council also issued a statement after the horrific act in Winterthur. It condemned the attack: "Islam forbids violence against innocents in no uncertain terms. Whoever commits such a shameful act in the name of Islam is acting diametrically against Islam, and  whoever permits it or stands silent also bears responsibility."

At the same time, the IZR calls on all Muslims in Switzerland to "be vigilant, to report radicalization tendencies in their community early on, and actively contribute to prevention."

*Name changed

2 Jews Accosted in Santa Monica by Man and his Dog

-Santa Monica Daily Press

On Sunday, in Santa Monica, California, two Jews walking down the street were accosted by a man who got out of his car with a baseball bat, along with his dog. The man was screaming at the couple and calling them "genocidal". At one point, one of the victims was bitten in the leg by the man's dog. He was subsequently arrested and has been identified as Nay Min Tar or Tar Nay.

You can watch videos of the incident here (AOL.com) and here (Stop Antisemites on X).

Viewer warning (language).

One Fine Day at UC Berkeley

Hat tip California United Against Anti-Semitism, Community News, and Mad Magazine

It is rare when you see a fine day at UC Berkeley, where madness has reigned for decades and has only gotten worse with the little rascals of the pro-Palestine movement. So this video of a grad walking up to receive his diploma dressed in a Palestinian keffiyah and carrying a Palestinian flag, only to be turned away for violating university policies on flags, is priceless. You can view the video here.

Maybe even UC Berkeley has decided they have seen enough of that obnoxious flag on their campus.

Italy: Police Thwart Terrorist Knife Attack in Support of ISIS

Reggio Emilia

Yet another reminder for us in the West that the terrorists who support ISIS are still walking among us, preparing to strike. In Reggio Emilia, Italian police have arrested a 22-year-old Italian citizen of Moroccan origin for planning to carry out a knife attack on behalf of ISIS.

The article below in Il Giornale is translated by Fousesquawk. I should note that the writer, Giulia Sorrentino, has been subjected to numerous threats for her reporting on Islamist terrorism and migrant crime in Italy.

22-year-old arrested in Reggio Emilia: Follower of ISIS and ready to carry out an attack

22-year-old Italian with Moroccan origin arrested by police of Reggio Emilia and Bologna for the crime of recruiting for the purpose of international terrorism,

-Giulia Sorrentino  25 May 2026 at 17:04

The followers of the Islamic State are multiplying in Italy, and the latest troubling case involves the arrest of a 22-year-old Italian, of Moroccan origin by Italian police of Reggio Emilia and Bologna for the crime of recruiting for the purpose of international terrorism. A very young guy, who, according to what Il Giornale has learned, had decided to go into the city center with a knife and with the clear intent to injure other people. The action by law enforcement was immediate, also because on the evening in which the attacker had decided to strike, there was an important basketball game scheduled with thousands of spectators, as well as a musical event in San Prospero Square, an extremely crowded city center.

In short, the perfect place to act, as intended, on behalf of the Islamic State.  But the subject was not unknown to our authorities: He was already under surveillance since 2024, when he was arrested in Germany for some crimes committed there and for having several times manifested his willingness to act on behalf of Islamic terrorists. The 22-year-old, in fact, reportedly had contacts with a presumed supporter of Daesh (ISIS), who reportedly offered to instruct him and finance him to carry out an attack in Italy or abroad, and to whom the young man had reportedly consented, declaring himself, yet again, a supporter of the Islamic State. 

"In the name of the Parliamentary group, Fratelli d'Italia, in the Chamber (of Deputies), I express thanks and full appreciation for the timely and effective intervention by the State Police of Reggio Emilia and Bologna, which allowed the arrest of a subject accused of recruitment for the purpose of international terrorism. The operation confirms the high professionalism of our law enforcement and the importance of the daily work of prevention and countering the threats to public safety.

In a delicate moment in the international context, it is fundamental to repeat that the security of the nation is a shared responsibility that requires institutional collaboration, constant attention, and unity of purpose on the part of all political and social forces," stated the group leader of Fratelli d'Italia in the Chamber of Deputies, Galeazzo Bignami.

One Fine Day on a Belgian Tram

 

Rick Steves on a European tram

Traveling around Europe on public transport is no longer what Rick Steves cracks it up to be. Several tram employees and police officers were injured in a brawl that broke out when several young men were found to be without tickets.

The article below from the French-language Belgian site, 7 sur 7 is translated by Fousesquawk. In addition, the Dutch-language De Standaard has a video you can watch here. Translated subtitles of the Dutch captions are pending. 

Caption: The coastal tram. *Insert: The attack in De Haan (Le Coq in French)

Brawl breaks out on a De Haan tram: Several employees of De Lijn sent to the emergency room

A brawl on the De Haan (Le Coq in French) tram (Belgian coast) caused several injuries Sunday evening among the employees of De Lijn (transport company) and police after a (ticket) check of young men without tickets degenerated.

-Kevin Dupont

Source: Belga, HLN

25 May 2026, 08:35

Three young men, not having a valid ticket, tried to flee from a coastal tram. The De Lijn  (ticket) inspectors tried to stop them. This caused the situation to degenerate. A 4th young man, also without a ticket and originally from Ninove, was arrested by police, but not without a confrontation. Two officers were injured. One of them is now on leave of absence. According to HLN (news), a total of 7 people were sent to the emergency room.

Seven employees of the Flemish public transport company, including the conductor of the tram, were injured in the brawl. The 3 suspects then fled again. They are being sought.

Two Names on the Wall (Re-Post 2026)

As I do every Memorial Day weekend, I am re-posting what I wrote in 2007 regarding two friends who died in Vietnam, Dorian Jan Houser and Michael Gene Vinassa. May they rest eternally in peace.

Dorian Jan Houser (1946-1967)

Michael G Vinassa (1946-1966)


The recent news that someone had defaced the Viet Nam War Memorial in Washington served to bring back my memories of two of my childhood friends whose names appear on that wall. Mike Vinassa and Dorian Houser were both from west Los Angeles, where I also grew up. We belonged to the same high school social club. All three of us entered military service after high school. I was assigned to Germany; they were sent to Viet Nam. I returned and went on with the rest of my life. They died in Viet Nam. Forty years later, with our country once again at war and American soldiers sacrificing their lives for America, we should also remember those that gave their lives in Viet Nam.

Dorian

I first knew Dorian in the 1950s. He and his brother, Lee, played on my little league team. Their father was our coach. Later, my relationship with Dory continued in school. In high school, we both belonged to a club called the Chancellors of Venice. As was common in west LA, there were many (off-campus) clubs formed for social purposes. We all had our club jackets, with the name of the club and locale (Venice or WLA) embroidered on the back. The colors of the clubs varied (ours was green). As we ended our high school days, these clubs disbanded as we went our separate ways-off to college, work or military service. In Dory's case, he entered the Marines in 1966, and after training, was sent to Viet Nam. On May 10, 1967, one month before his 21st birthday, he was killed in Quang Tin. He was hit in the chest by shrapnel and killed instantly.

I happened to be home on leave from Germany when we got the news that Dory was dead. I was able to attend his funeral before returning back to Germany. I'm a little embarrassed to admit it after all these years, but I chose not to wear my uniform to the funeral, simply because I was afraid his family might react emotionally to it. I have always regretted that decision.

Dory was the kind of guy that no one could dislike. He was friendly and unassuming. Needless to say, his funeral was a sad and emotional event. In the last couple of years, I have visited his grave a couple of times since my mother-in-law is interred in the same cemetery. About a year ago, I came across a posting about Dory by his sister. She described her brother and was looking for anyone who knew Dory and remembered him. I answered her post, but the email is no longer valid. As yet, I have not been able to contact her.

Mike

Mike Vinassa was also a member of the Chancellors. He was a stout, barrel-chested kid with a big tattoo on his shoulder, something unusual at the time for someone so young (still in high school). Needless to say, he was tough and didn't mind a good fight. Most other kids knew not to mess with him, but among his friends, he was well-liked. I remember one night we were at a party and he wanted to (playfully) roughhouse with me. We started slap-fighting and wrestling on the front yard of the house, and (somehow) I was able to throw him to the ground and fall on top of him. As you may know, innocent roughhousing among teenagers can easily turn into a real fight, and I remember thinking that Mike might suddenly get mad, so I rolled over and let him get on top, thus letting him win the match.

After high school, I went on to complete 2 years of college before I entered the Army. I basically lost touch with Mike and Dory at that time.

I had recently arrived at my post of duty in Germany when I came across Mike's name while reading the Viet Nam obituaries in the Army Times. It wasn't until several months ago that I learned the circumstances of Mike's death, which occurred on May 22, 1966.

Mike was a member of C Co, Ist Bn, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cav Division (US Army). Ironically, Mike was a short-timer, soon to return to the US, and, on that day, assigned to non-combat duties. Yet he insisted on accompanying his unit on a final combat mission in the Vinh Thanh Valley. It was on that final mission, that Mike lost his life-under heroic conditions. He personally led a group of his comrades in charging and taking out a machine gun nest that was pinning down his unit, but was fatally shot in the process. For his actions, Mike was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His sole survivor was his mother.

In subsequent years, I have been able to find both their names on the Viet Nam Memorial. (I was living in the Washington area at the time.) As stated, I have visited Dory's grave, but as yet, have not identified Mike's cemetery. When I look back at my life after the Army, I contemplate how I finished college, began my career, got married, had children, retired, and now find myself in my 60s. But as I looked down on Dory's grave, I realized that he and Mike are frozen in time-forever 20 years old. I wonder what became of their parents, the rest of the families.

In a sense, today's soldiers are more fortunate than those who went to Viet Nam. The overwhelming majority of the American people greatly respect them (with the notable exception of the usual mindless idiots who are not worth further mention in this essay). Soldiers returning from Viet Nam were often subject to despicable treatment from those of their own generation who did everything they could to avoid military service. Once the Viet Nam War ended, the country wanted to forget about it as quickly as possible-after all, it was just a tragic period in our history. We also forgot about our Viet Nam veterans who came back alive-in so many cases, as walking wounded. They deserved so much better from us. They are still among us, and in many cases, still wounded.

All of us who lost friends or family members in Viet Nam should try to keep their memories alive and honor them. God rest their souls.

Michael G Vinassa- Panel 07E, line 104
Dorian Jan Houser- Panel 19E, line 082

Austria: Teenage Gang Sentenced in Vienna Court

A gang of 8 teenagers received various sentences in a Vienna court after they were convicted of a series of muggings. One of the defendants, a 15-year-old, was already convicted of rape. When the judge mentioned that in court, the boy yelled, "Wallah! (I swear by God in Arabic) Why do you have to say that so loud?"

The article below is translated from Heute (Austria) by Fousesquawk.

Rapist (15) in court

"Wallah (I swear by God)!" Do you have to say that now so loud ?"

The trial against 8 young repeat offenders(14,15): One is already a convicted rapist: When the judge mentions that in court, it becomes wild

From Newsdesk Heute

May 23, 2026, 15:30 

It is clear even at the start of the trial: This proceeding will not be the usual juvenile trial. Eight youths, 7 boys and 1 girl, had to answer in Vienna Friday for several brutal robbery attacks. The defendants are 14-15 years of age, according to the prosecutor, already "repeat offenders". 

In particular, a 15-year-old caused quite a stir. Judge Georg Allmayer listed his previous sentences in the Vienna State Court -three offenses in one year, "among others, for rape". Thereupon, the young boy apparently lost his temper according to Kronen Zeitung. "Wallah!" (I swear by God), he yelled loudly in the courtroom. He then added: "Ok, why do you have to say that so loud?"

The scenes corresponded to the serious accusations against the group. According to the investigations, the gang allegedly terrorized the students in Doebling. Victims reported daily intimidation in front of the school. "The gang is constantly hanging around in the 19th District. Several children are afraid and don't even report incidents although they happen daily," a teenager told the police.

Teacher locked the door

Another recounted, "It is common knowledge among the students that the group is armed with knives and brass knuckles." Especially shocking, according to the indictment, the teenagers even chased one victim to the teachers' lounge of a school. A teacher locked the door, but the boys kicked it and yelled, "The whore should come out".

According to investigators, the defendants were also organized during the muggings. At the Heiligenstadt subway station, one of the teenagers allegedly summoned his accomplices together with the words, "Here are two patients". The judge inquired about the meaning. The answer from the defendant: "Two people we can rip off." By "rip off," he meant, by his own statement, simply: "Rob them."

Grinned in court

In spite of the serious charges, many of the youths seemed remarkably relaxed in the courtroom. They grinned, whispered, and some were having fun in the proceeding. More youths came into the courtroom. Several police and court security officers, therefore, had to ensure security.

In the end, the verdicts were comparably mild: The first defendant received a one-year partially sentence. The 15-year-old, who stood out with his "Wallah!" remark, got 15 months as well as the revocation of a previously suspended 8-month sentence.

UC Davis: "We Know Where You (Zionists) Live"

The moral rot within the University of California system goes on without missing a beat.

On October 10, 2023, three days after the Hamas massacre in Israel that many in the US academic world celebrated, an assistant professor at UC Davis named Jemma Decristo reportedly posted the message on her social media, which you see below. Now, after a two-year investigation (!), UCD has decided to allow Decristo to remain at the university. Here is an article by the California Post (NY Post) from last January.

-NY Post

I can't imagine that the UCD campus newspaper, The Aggie, wouldn't have reported something on this. Since the news dates back to January, I entered Decristo's name into the Aggie search block and it came up negative.

Decristo claims that it all was in satire. Maybe so, but I dare say if a professor at any university had posted similar language, even in satire, regarding African-Americans, gays, or transgenders (Decristo classifies her/himself as the latter), that professor would be fired, and not after a two-year investigation. And I would support that firing.

Belgium: Prison Furloughs for Terrorist

Bataclan nightclub, November 13, 2015

There is outrage in Belgium and France over the granting of prison furlough to a man convicted both in France and Belgium for his involvement in two terror attacks, one an attack on a train from Amsterdam to Paris, and more importantly, the infamous November 2015 attacks in Paris that claimed the lives of some 130 people.

 Mohamed Bakkali was involved not only in the logistics and preparation of the November 2015 Paris attacks (Bataclan etc), but also in an incident in August 2015 where a Moroccan named Ayoub El Khazzani attempted a terror attack with a gun on a Thalys train from Amsterdam to Paris, in which three US servicemen helped subdue the attacker. Though the attack occurred on French soil and was tried in France, Belgium also charged Bakkali for his logistical involvement based on the fact that the attacker boarded the train in Brussels. Bakkali was arrested in Belgium and charged with heading a terrorist organization. He was sent back to France to be tried for the Paris attacks of November 2015, but on the condition that he be returned to Belgium after that trial.  Unfortunately, sentencing provisions in Belgium are considerably more lenient than in France. A Belgian court has ruled that Bakkali is entitled to six 36-hour furloughs.

The article below from the French-language site, RTL Belgium is translated by Fousesquawk.

Mohamed Bakkali, logistical coordinator of the Paris attacks, will be able to leave prison despite his 25-30 year sentence in prison. How is this possible?

-By Gwendeline Delieux

May 20, 2026 at 07:02

Sentenced to a lengthy term of imprisonment in France for his role in the thwarted Thalys (train) attack and those of November 13, 2015 in Paris, Mohamed Bakkali will, nevertheless, benefit from prison leaves in Belgium. That is a possibility due to the Belgian sentencing regulations, more flexible than those in effect in France, which will allow him to apply for an adjusted sentence after (serving) one-third of his imprisonment.

 Convicted for his logistical role in the terrorist cell responsible for the thwarted attack on the Thalys Amsterdam-Paris train in August 2015, then the Paris attacks of November 13, 2015, Mohamed Bakkali is about to benefit from 6 prison leaves, our colleagues at Sudinfo reveal. The 39-year-old man, originally from Verviers (Belgium), is for now, held at the Iltre prison, but has been sentenced in France: 25 years of imprisonment for the thwarted Thalys attack, and 30 years imprisonment with a minimum 2/3s time to be served for the Paris attacks. 

Had he served his sentence in France, he would not have been able to benefit from an adjustment of sentence before having served 2/3 of the sentence, thus 20 years in prison. But in Belgium, he can apply for prison leave after 1/3, that is, 10 years.

Six 36-hour leaves 

Mohamed Bakkali, thus, is entitled to six prison leaves of a maximum 36 hours each. The decision was made by the Brussels Sentencing Enforcement Court against the advice of the Public Prosecutor's Office. 

In its reasoning, the court finds that he has taken steps to find employment and lodging, that he is behaving in a calm and respectful manner, and that his wife is enthusiastic about welcoming him back.

*Update: The video in the above article from RTL, Belgium is reproduced below. Hat tip Gates of Vienna, Vlad Tepes, and RAIR Foundation USA for subtitling. Translation assistance by Fousesquawk. 

Troubling Questions Regarding Robert Spencer Event at UCI

This article first appeared in New English Review.

Last week, I attended a speaking event by Robert Spencer at the University of California at Irvine (UCI), which was hosted by Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), a conservative student organization with a chapter at UCI.  After attending the event, I have managed to obtain disturbing information concerning the difficulty that YAF encountered in arranging it.

Initially, the YAF's poster announcing the event read, "Robert Spencer at UCI: The dangerous myth of Islamophobia." UCI administration reportedly had YAF change the wording since it implied that UCI was hosting the event due to the "UCI" reference, even though the original announcement included "Young Americans for Freedom at UCI". The poster was thus changed to read "YAF at UCI presents: Robert Spencer on the dangerous myth of Islamophobia." The university also reportedly threatened to hit YAF with a "fronting fine" if the video of the event were put on Young America's Foundation's (their parent organization) YouTube channel by YAF. As one who has fought numerous battles at UCI over the right to videotape public events in public venues, it seems to me that YAF can do whatever it wants with the video. After all, by its own words, UCI had nothing to do with the event.

In addition, during the week leading up to the event, YAF put up about 500 posters around campus, which were repeatedly torn down. YAF recorded several students doing it in their presence. One such person may have been a professor, though this is not confirmed. There were also efforts around the campus discouraging students from attending the event. As it was, there were only about 20-25 people present.

If the above is the case, it is pretty much par for the course in my view. Fortunately, there were no serious disruptions, save for a rude interruption by one young man. I am sure Spencer is used to far worse. But if UCI is truly a place where differing and even controversial opinions can be heard, which is what I hear so many university administrators prattling about, then this is a strange way of showing it. 

The fact is that many universities put up bureaucratic obstacles when conservative or pro-Israel student groups want to bring in a speaker like Spencer, who, contrary to leftist dogma, is not a radical, but an expert, a scholar actually, on the Koran and Islamic teaching. He does not preach hatred towards Muslims but rather provides reasoned arguments as to how strict Islamic teaching and Sharia law are antithetical to our values of democracy and equality and are directly connected to the daily acts of violence that occur around the world. Indeed, much like the late Charlie Kirk, he invites debate and welcomes disagreements from the audience. Yet, he is unfairly labeled a hate monger by those who will not listen to him and cannot debate him.

UCI was one of dozens upon dozens of US universities that were subjected to pro-Palestinian encampments in 2024 following the monstrous Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in UCI's case, an encampment that had to finally be ended by police after the university completely failed to deal with it. And yet, UCI has apparently not learned its lesson. Disruption in the guise of free speech was allowed to go on for over 2 weeks at UCI. The solution is not to allow YAF's posters to be torn down and to put up roadblocks to efforts to hold a peaceful speaking event. The solution is not to send a university official to sit in the audience with a laptop, taking notes on what a conservative speaker has to say.

Over the past two decades, I have watched dozens of fire-breathing radicals come to speak at UCI, hosted by the Muslim Student Union and Students for Justice in Palestine. People like Amir Abdel Malik Ali, Abdul Alim Musa, Mohamed al-Asi, Hatem Bazian, Hussam Ayloush, Zahra Billoo, and too many others to list here have come to UCI and spouted pure poison, often making anti-Semitic comments in their speeches. They were not disrupted, and if UCI put up bureaucratic obstacles to student groups hosting those speakers, I have never heard any complaints brought forth by these groups.

It is the same old double standard, and once again demonstrates how our institutions of higher learning have no clue as to how to be a place where respectful and reasoned dialogue can take place, which is precisely what universities are supposed to be in the first place.