Dries Van Langenhove has once again been sentenced to one year in prison for violations of Belgium’s racism and negationism laws. On 2025-06-20 11:18:00, the Ghent Court of Appeal ruled that his sentence would be fully suspended, a significant change from his earlier effective one-year jail term.
- Dries Van Langenhove receives one-year suspended sentence
- Court of Appeal in Ghent issues ruling
- Original one-year prison sentence was effective
- Fined 1,600 euros with reduced penalty
- Maintains his civil rights without revocation
- Van Langenhove appeals to Supreme Court
The founder of the far-right group Schild & Vrienden now faces a reduced fine of €1,600 and retains his civil rights. Van Langenhove has announced he will appeal the decision to the Court of Cassation, keeping the legal battle ongoing. What does this mean for Belgium’s fight against hate speech and denialism?
As this case develops, it raises questions about how Belgian courts balance punishment and rehabilitation in sensitive cases involving racism laws. Here is a quick summary of the ruling and its implications.
Why did the Court of Appeal decide to suspend the sentence this time? Could this set a precedent for similar cases? The ruling suggests a nuanced judicial approach balancing deterrence and leniency. Key points include:
- Original effective one-year prison sentence changed to full suspension on appeal
- Fine reduced from previous amount to €1,600
- No revocation of Van Langenhove’s civil rights
- Case now headed to the Court of Cassation for final review
As Van Langenhove pursues his appeal, Belgian society must ask: how will courts ensure justice while protecting free speech? Stay tuned for updates on this high-profile case and its impact on Belgium’s legal landscape.
