Unia (Belgian Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities) case-law database: Correctionele rechtbank Oost-Vlaanderen, afdeling Gent, 16 maart 2021, “vzw Christelijke Gemeente van Jehovah’s Getuigen — conviction for incitement to discrimination and hatred”
“De vzw Christelijke Gemeente van Jehovah’s Getuigen werd veroordeeld tot een geldboete van 96.000 euro voor het aanzetten tot discriminatie en haat tegen ex-leden.”
Charges under art. 22, 1°-4° of the 2007 Anti-Discrimination Act (incitement to discrimination and to hatred/violence against individuals and a group); Unia and about fifteen former members were civil parties; complaint lodged 2015 by a former member. Unia's own summary (12 Jan 2024 update, https://www.unia.be/nl/actua/gelovigen-antidiscriminatiewet) also records the 2022 acquittal and the Cassation ruling.
Official source (opens in new tab)
Provenance and verification note for Unia (Belgian Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities) case-law database: Correctionele rechtbank Oost-Vlaanderen, afdeling Gent, 16 maart 2021, vzw Christelijke Gemeente van Jehovah’s Getuigen — conviction for incitement to discrimination and hatred
Confidence note. Unia case page and Unia news update opened; date, charges, fine and parties confirmed. The judgment text itself was not opened.
Corroborated by. src-vrt-2021-0316-ghent-fine, src-brusselstimes-2021-0316-ghent
Notes. Dutch-language source. Fine = base €12,000 x 8 statutory surcharge ('opdeciemen') = €96,000 (VRT).
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-unia-2021-0316-ghent-criminal-court