The Brussels Tribunal of Application of Sentences granted Mohamed Bakkali six days of prison leave on May 11, 2026 [1], [2].
This decision is significant because Bakkali was identified as the logistician for the coordinated terrorist attacks that struck Paris on Nov. 13, 2015. The granting of temporary leave is often viewed as a preliminary step toward a full early release from incarceration.
Bakkali is currently serving a 30-year sentence [2] for his role in the 2015 attacks. Under Belgian law, sentenced prisoners are eligible to receive temporary leave as part of the execution regime of their sentence. The tribunal applied this specific legal provision to Bakkali's case during the decision made earlier this month [1], [2].
The tribunal awarded Bakkali six "congés pénitentiaires," or prison leave days [1]. These periods of leave are designed to facilitate a prisoner's gradual reintegration into society. However, the prospect of such leave for a high-profile convict involved in mass-casualty terrorism often draws scrutiny regarding the balance between rehabilitation, and public safety.
Legal representatives and observers said that this move could potentially lead to an early release [1], [2]. The tribunal's decision reflects the application of standard Belgian penal procedures, even for those convicted of the most severe crimes, provided the legal criteria for the execution regime are met.
“The Brussels Tribunal of Application of Sentences granted Mohamed Bakkali six days of prison leave”
The decision highlights the tension between Belgium's rehabilitative legal framework and the gravity of terrorism convictions. By granting 'congés pénitentiaires,' the court is following a statutory process for sentence execution, but the move may spark political or public debate given Bakkali's role in the 2015 Paris attacks.
