MP Laurent Mosar posed the parliamentary question asking whether the prosecution intended to issue an international arrest warrant against Steve Duarte. The jihadist, of Portuguese origin and previously a Luxembourg resident, is currently being held in a camp in Syria. He recently granted an interview in which he expressed his regrets and ensured that he was never, in fact, actually sent to fight.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs had a somewhat sharp answer for the CSV MP. He admitted the question was unsurprising, yet challenging. The minister explained that the government does not have the jurisdiction to gain advance knowledge of measures that the prosecution might pursue, citing the independence of justice authorities, the principles of the separation of powers, and investigation confidentiality as causes.
Mosar however maintained his curiosity, turning it to two other residents who, having gone to Syria, returned to Luxembourg at the end of 2014. Had they been prosecuted or convicted by the Luxembourg courts? Would there be a follow-up?
Without going into the exact cases of these two residents, Asselborn replied that Luxembourg would remain vigilant, and that any foreign terrorist fighter known to the authorities and returning to Luxembourg from a conflict zone would be monitored and, if necessary, pursued.
In addition, Luxembourg was committed to strengthening its legal arsenal, making amendments that would facilitate the criminalisation of acts of provocation and incitement to terrorism, alongside terrorism recruitment, education and training, as well as the commission of terrorist acts.
He added that, at the national level, co-operation between the law enforcement authorities, justice authorities, and any other administrative group would continue. In this regard, the group coordinating the fight against terrorism carries out regular assessments of any terrorist threats.
