The Belgian Criminal Code defines terrorism as an act that can seriously damage a country or an international organisation and which is deliberately committed with the aim of seriously frightening a population or unlawfully compelling the government or an international organisation to perform or refrain from performing an act, or seriously disrupting or destroying the basic political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a country or an international organisation. Terrorism can take the form of various offences, such as manslaughter, beating and wounding, kidnapping, arms trafficking, etc. It is not so much the crime that causes something to qualify as terrorism, but the intention ("the motive") behind the crime. The Belgian criminal code, following the European directives, provides for a very broad punishment for terrorism. Thus, it is also punishable to be a member of a terrorist organisation, to provide material, logistic or financial assistance to a terrorist organisation, to promote and/or incite terrorism, to recruit members of a terrorist organisation, to train members of a terrorist organisation, ... . For more information on this offence, a concrete punishment and/or advice tailored to your needs, contact our criminal lawyers at [email protected].