Belgium / Court of First Instance Brussels / De Procureur des Konings bij het parket Halle-Vilvoorde vs. D. J. P. R.
Country
Belgium
Title
Year
Decision/ruling/judgment date
Incident(s) concerned/related
Related Bias motivation
Groups affected
Court/Body type
Court/Body
Key facts of the case
A man posted a message in a Facebook group, asking whether the local mosque might move to another location. The defendant replied the following: "If only, there are more and more of them, we have to burn them down."
Main reasoning/argumentation
The Court found that the message posted by the defendant on the Facebook group is an attack on the Muslim community. Calling for mosques to be burned to the ground is a call for violence and in violation of the federal Anti-Discrimination Act.
Is the case related to the application of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia, the Racial Equality Directive?
Key issues (concepts, interpretations) clarified by the case
The case was very straightforward. The defendant never appeared for any police questioning nor before the Court itself. The Court found the accusations to be proven based on the Facebook post. The Court considered the facts very serious as they showed an absolute lack of respect for the right to equality.
Results (sanctions, outcome) and key consequences or implications of the case
The Court finds the man guilty of incitement to violence against the Muslim community. The man is convicted in absentia and sentenced to a fine of €4,800.
Key quotation in original language and its unofficial translation into English with reference details
"De feiten zijn zeer ernstig. De houding van beklaagde getuigt van een absoluut gebrek aan respect voor de gelijkwaardigheid van eenieder in de maatschappij en is uiterst afkeurenswaardig. Het oproepen om moskeeën plat te branden is onaanvaardbaar."
"The facts are very serious. The attitude of the accused shows an absolute lack of respect for the equality of everyone in society and is extremely reprehensible. The call to burn down mosques is unacceptable."