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Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam refuses to answer questions in Belgian court: 'Do as you want with me' Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam refuses to answer questions in Belgian court: 'Do as you want with me'
(35 minutes later)
The sole surviving suspect of the 2015 Isis attacks on Paris refused to answer questions as his trial in Brussels over a shooting preceding his arrest opened in Brussels. The sole surviving suspect of the 2015 Isis attacks on Paris refused to answer questions as his trial in Brussels over a shooting preceding his arrest opened in Brussels. 
Salah Abdeslam, who refused to stand when asked by the judge to rise and identify himself, said: "I do not wish to answer questions." Salah Abdeslam, who refused to stand when asked by the judge to rise and identify himself, said: ”I do not wish to answer questions.”
Citing his right to silence and declaring his Muslim faith, he accused the media of condemning him before his trial: "Judge me. Do as you want with me," he told the judge. "I put my trust in my Lord." Citing his right to silence and declaring his Muslim faith, he accused the media of condemning him before his trial: “Judge me. Do as you want with me,” he told the judge.
Appearing in public for the first time since the November 2015 attacks and his arrest in Brussels four months later, he remained seated. “I put my trust in my Lord.”
After a first session during which his alleged accomplice admitted to having fought for Isis in Syria and said both accused were present during the March 2016 shootout with Brussels police, the judge again asked Abdeslam to speak. Appearing in public for the first time since the November 2015 attacks and his arrest in Brussels four months later, Abdeslam is on trial in his hometown on charges of attempted murder for a police shootout in March 2006 from which he fled.
"I remain silent. That is a right which I have," he said, adding: "My silence does not make me a criminal or guilty. After a first session during which his alleged accomplice admitted to having fought for Isis in Syria and said both accused were present during the shootout with Brussels police, the judge again asked Abdeslam to speak.
"I am defending myself by remaining silent." “I remain silent. That is a right which I have,” he said, adding: “My silence does not make me a criminal or guilty.
Abdeslam asked the prosecution to base itself on forensic evidence "and not swagger about to satisfy public opinion", adding: "Muslims are judged and treated in the worst kind of ways. They are judged without mercy. There is no presumption of innocence." “I am defending myself by remaining silent.”
Abdeslam asked the prosecution to base itself on forensic evidence “and not swagger about to satisfy public opinion”, adding: “Muslims are judged and treated in the worst kind of ways. They are judged without mercy. There is no presumption of innocence.”
Abdeslam has previously refused to speak to investigators in France about the attack there that killed 130.
Days following his capture, extremists struck in Brussels. In total, 162 people died in the two attacks. 
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