Belgian court rules out extradition for Spanish rapper

GHENT, Belgium (AP) — A Belgian court of appeal on Tuesday ruled that Spanish rapper Valtonyc should not be extradited to Spain, where he has been sentenced to prison accused of writing lyrics that praise terror groups and insult the royal family. The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Jose Miguel Arenas Beltran and who has been living in Belgium since 2018, faces prison sentences in Spain totaling three-and-a-half years. Francis Clarysse, a Ghent prosecutor, told The Associated Press that the prosecution now has 24 hours to decide whether to appeal the decision to Belgium’s highest court, the court of cassation. Tuesday’s ruling marked the fourth time the Spanish judicial authorities’ requests for extradition were denied.