Morrocan-born Salah Abdeslam (pictured), 28, was flanked by armed police wearing balaclavas as he arrived at Palais de Justice

The only terrorist survivor of the murderous ISIS attack in Paris that killed 130 people has accused a Belgian court of being biased against Muslims.

Salah Abdeslam, 28, was flanked by two special forces police officers brandishing machine guns and wearing balaclavas at the start of his trial in Brussels.

Hopes were high that, after insisting on attending the trial, Abdeslam would take the opportunity to break nearly two years of silence about the bloodshed.

But in shocking scenes at the Palais de Justice, the notorious jihadi launched into a tirade in the name of his Muslim religion.

'What I see is that Muslims are judged and treated in the worst of ways, mercilessly. There is no presumption of innocence,' he said.

He also told the judge: 'I am not afraid of you, I put my trust in Allah.'

Abdeslam refused to stand and also invoked his right to prevent cameramen picturing or filming him in court.

If found guilty of terrorist charges along with 24-year-old Sofien Ayari, an alleged accomplice from Tunisia, he would face up to 40 years in prison.

Abdeslam was wearing a white jacket and thick black beard as he was led in front of judges, one of whom said: 'Confirm your identity. Are you Salah Abdelslam? Say who you are.'

Abdeslam refused to stand and also invoked his right to prevent cameramen picturing or filming him in court. Pictured: Abeslam's convoy arriving at the prison of Vendin-le-Vieil, northern France after the first day of his trial

A convoy understood to be transporting the only surviving suspect in the November 2015 Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, arrives at the prison of Vendin-le-Vieil, northern France, after the first day in Abdeslam's trial in Brussels

Relatives of victims of the Paris attacks who attended the trial were neither surprised, nor impressed by Abdeslam's actions in court

In turn, the French passport holder from a Moroccan background, who was brought up in Brussels, stared at the floor.

Later in proceedings, Marie-France Keutgen, the president of the judges bench, asked him why he refused to stand up in court.

'I'm tired,' Abdeslam replied, to which Keutgen said he should show some respect, and get off his seat.

Then Ms Keutgen asked the defendant why he had bothered turning up in the first place.

'I've been asked to come, I'm here, I'm being accused, so I'm here,' Abdeslam replied.

'I'm staying silent, it's my right, it doesn't make me a criminal. It's my defence, that's it.'

Then, despite his vow of silence, Abdeslam could not helping but launch into a diatribe.

'Now that there is scientific proof in this case, I want it to be based on that and that you are not swayed by satisfying public opinion,' he told the judges, adding that they should not 'give up their function to the media.'

A courtroom sketch shows Salah Abdeslam (centre) prior to the opening of his trial at the Palais de Justice

Abdeslam was wearing a white jacket and thick black beard as he was led in front of judges

'I've been asked to come, I'm here, I'm being accused, so I'm here,' Abdeslam (shown in a court sketch above) said

Abdeslam, a French passport holder from a Moroccan background, is accused of possession of weapons and attempted murder in a terrorist context

Abdeslam's grey jacket, white shirt, dark trousers and brown dress shoes contrasted with the hooded track top of his co-defendant, Sofiane Ayari

Dramatic video showed the moment Salah Abdeslam was captured in Brussels on 18 March 2016

He then turned to his religion.

He declared the Muslim profession of faith - the Shahada - before the court, saying: 'I declare that there is no god but Allah, Mohammed is his servant and his messenger.'

'Judge me, do what you want with me, it's in my Lord that I place my trust,' he said.

'I am not afraid of you, I am not afraid of your allies. I put my trust in Allah and that's all, I have nothing else to add,' Abdeslam told the court.

The judge said curtly that the court 'takes note' of his response.

Handcuffed, he was led back to his cell during the lunch break by the police. They did not take their eyes off him once.

Relatives of victims of the Paris attacks who attended the trial were neither surprised, nor impressed.

'I personally never thought he would cooperate with the Belgian courts, no more than he cooperated with the French courts,' said Philippe Duperron, whose son Thomas was killed in the Bataclan concert hall in Paris.

Duperron said Abdeslam only showed his 'incoherent behaviour'. He added: 'He did not reply other than with a provocative statement, by appealing to his god Allah.'

The failed suicide bomber and so-called 'quartermaster' of the November 13th 2015 massacre was captured in Belgium four months later.

The defendant was represented by Belgian lawyers Sven Mary (seen right) and Romain Delcoigne (seen left)

Salah Abdeslam was the so-called 'quartermaster' of the 2015 massacre and played a major role in providing the arms and explosives used in the attack

Abdeslam had run a bar in the Molenbeek district of the Belgian capital

Abdeslam (below) faces terrorism charges alongside 24-year-old Sofien Ayari (above) - an alleged accomplice from Tunisia

Chairwoman of the court Marie-France Keutgen spoke during the opening of the first day of the trial

He allegedly targeted bars and cafes around the Stade de France during a football international between France and Germany. Pictured: Palais de Justice, Brussels

Among those represented in court were three officers from the Franco-Belgian investigation team who were wounded during Abdeslam's capture

Armed Belgian policemen wearing balaclavas stood guard at the entrance of the courthouse in Brussels

Today's trial relates to a shoot-out with police in March 2016, with Abdeslam and Ayari accused of possession of weapons and attempted murder in a terrorist context.

There will be another process later this year or in 2019 in Paris, when Abdeslam will face trial in relation to the attacks in France.

Meanwhile, there were 200 armed officers inside the court building in Brussels alone today, where Abdeslam appeared inside the 90th Correctional Chamber.

It was the first time he has been seen in a public court since being shot in the leg during his dramatic capture.

The Paris attacks were on the Stade de France during a football international between France and Germany, bars, restaurants, and the Bataclan music venue, where 90 died.

Among the nine attackers involved was Abdeslam's brother, Brahim Abdeslam, 31, who blew himself up inside a packed restaurant.

Both men had run a bar in the Belgium capital, in the Molenbeek district where Salah Abdeslam was eventually found hiding on March 18th 2016.

He was then linked to another ISIS attack in Brussels four days later – on March 22nd 2016 – when a total of 32 people were killed in coordinated suicide attacks on the city's airport and an underground train station.

Tight secrecy has surrounded plans for transferring Abdeslam from Paris to the Palais de Justice in Brussels, and then back to a prison just across the border in northern France every night.

French police officers escorted a convoy which carried Paris attacks defendant Salah Abdeslam to court

His transportation over the border from France to Brussels has been subject to tight secrecy

Emergency services were called to the Bataclan theater in Paris after reports of a shooting

Wounded people were evacuated from the Stade de France after explosions were reported

As many as 90 people were killed inside the Bataclan theatre during a performance by rock band Eagles of Death Metal

French and Belgian forces are taking joint responsibility for escorting the defendant from France's Vendin-le-Vieil prison.

In Brussels, police are reportedly guarding a building with a surface area greater than that of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Among those represented in court today were three officers belonging to the Franco-Belgian investigation team who were wounded during Abdeslam's capture.

The civil parties also include victims of the Brussels bombings, who asked to be included in proceedings at the last minute.

This led to Sven Mary, Abdeslam's lawyer, asking for adjournment. It was discussed by the bench, as the two defendants were briefly led out of the dock.

The trial continues.