Gary Fitleberg, November 23, 2004

A Belgian senator is being protected by police at a secret location after receiving death threats from radical Islamists.

Mimount Bousakla, a Socialist Party senator from Antwerp, is of Moroccan origin and is well known for her criticism of radical Islamic groups.

The threats come after Bousakla strongly criticized a leading Belgian Muslim organization for failing to condemn the murder earlier this month of a Dutch filmmaker by Islamist extremists.

According to reports in two Flemish newspapers, Bousakla has been accorded round-the-clock police protection since the weekend.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg