Conviction of Dries Van Langenhove: “A historic victory with major consequences for Vlaams Belang”

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Around ten civil society organizations, including Kif Kif and çavaria, reacted with satisfaction to the judgment rendered Tuesday in the Schild & Vrienden case. For Nina Henkens, coordinator of the anti-racist platform Kif Kif vzw, “this is a historic victory which will have major consequences for Vlaams Belang and the next elections”.

Dries Van Langenhove was sentenced on Tuesday to one year in prison for breaching the law on racism and Holocaust denial by the Ghent Criminal Court, in connection with this case. The former MP for the far-right Vlaams Belang party was also sentenced to 10 months of suspended detention for violating the law on possession of weapons, a ban on exercising his civil rights for 10 years and a fine.

Six other people were also prosecuted. Five received fines and suspended sentences of 6 to 8 months. The last defendant benefits from the suspension of the sentence under conditions.

“This decision is historic and constitutes a victory for our democracy and the rule of law,” continues Nina Henkens. “It shows that there is no room for orchestrated hatred and targeting of minority groups, even online and in closed chat groups.

Nina Henkens also highlights the consequences of this conviction for Vlaams Belang. “The VB is rising in the polls and is shouting louder and louder that it should join the government after the elections, but this conviction reminds all parties that the VB has no place in a democratic government. Its attitude s part of an active counter-movement throughout the world.