Fouad Belchem, 44, the founder and former leader of the extremist Islamist group Sharia4Belgium, has applied for asylum from prison as he nears the end of his sentence and faces possible deportation to Morocco.

Blackcham was convicted as the leader of Sharia4Belgium, which recruited and officered young Muslims in Belgium and helped prepare the recruits to go to war in Syria.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with his cumulative prison terms expected to expire in May 2027.

Belgium stripped Belkacem of his Belgian nationality in 2018. He maintains Moroccan citizenship.