Belgium, as a nation, is still reeling from the aftermath of the brazen terror attacks launched by the extremist group Islamic State (ISIS) on public places in Paris, which killed 130 people.
Several of the attackers, according to authorities, came from Belgium, which is also considered one of the biggest Western providers of jihadi fighters to the ranks of ISIS.
To fight ISIS and the radical Islamic thought it espouses focusing on violence and warfare, one moderate Muslim preacher or imam in Belgium has chosen to start effecting change in an unexpected place: the classroom.
Suleyman Van Ael has set up after-school classes for Belgian children to teach how Islam values peace and to provide an alternative to the radical messages that the youth in his area are hearing and seeing on the Internet.
Van Ael, who converted to Islam 20 years ago, believes what he is doing is a "vaccine against radicalisation," acknowledging that young minds are vulnerable to wrong teachings about Islam.
"Because when you're 8 years old, you should just enjoy life. Go to the park. Go to your mommy and eat some cake, and that's it," he said.
"They are exposed to YouTube videos, and from one video, you could go to another, and in the end, you find yourself getting information that you shouldn't get at that age," he added.
Van Ael said the "detailed information" the ISIS militants are offering to young kids, with the end goal of establishing the so-called "Cubs of the Caliphate," is "most disturbing."
The Muslim preacher also shared that at present, he makes it a point to teach his students that the deadly Paris attacks were "un-Islamic."
"We shouldn't be too afraid to point the fingers at ourselves and to say that we also have work to do to change this kind of violent radicalisation," Van Ael said.
He admitted that what he is doing now is not an easy task.
"It's not something that is easy, but in the end, you say if your goal is good, then it's worth going for, and whatever happens, happens. It's not only about my life," he said.
