Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Human Rights League prompted criticism of Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever to place 51 youths under house arrest for New Year’s Eve 2024.
The Mayor of Antwerp, Bart De Wever, put 51 youths under house arrest during New Year’s Eve in 2024. This is the third consecutive year that the mayor has made such a move. The youths were targeted for house arrest as they had committed serious crimes and were deemed to pose a danger to public safety.
House arrest started from 6:00 PM on December 31 to 8:00 AM on January 1, to keep it peaceful since most celebrations during New Year’s involve crowds of people. However, this decision raised many concerns among people.
Lawyers and youth workers criticized the measure. They argued that it might be illegal and not effective. They believed that house arrest could be a form of collective punishment and a violation of individual rights. One affected young person even challenged the decision in court. The court ruled that the request was not urgent enough for them to take action.
Is Antwerp’s house arrest policy for youths legally justified?
The house arrest measure has caused a lot of debate. This issue has been around for years. Civil rights groups have criticized it. They say it unfairly targets young people who are already vulnerable. They believe it does not address the real reasons for their behaviour. Recently, a 17-year-old challenged the decision in court. The Council of State rejected his appeal. They said the case was not urgent enough.
The court noted that house arrest might seem unfair, but they still supported the city’s decision. This situation raises questions about public safety and individual rights. Many people are still discussing whether the house arrest program really helps reduce crime or if it just increases tensions in the community.
The Human Rights League has raised serious concerns about the legality of house arrests. They argue that these measures do not have a proper legal basis. The League believes that mayors should also follow the same rules that apply to everyone else.
Kati Verstrepen, the chairwoman of the League, stated that politicians should not take on roles that belong to judges. This statement stresses the need for a clear separation between political power and the judicial system. The League worries that if politicians make decisions that should be made by judges, it could weaken the rule of law and put individual rights at risk.
The Human Rights League also stated that the house arrests had no legal basis and that mayors should also adhere to the rules.
“Politicians may not take over tasks from judges,”
said chairwoman Kati Verstrepen.
Is the legal basis for Antwerp’s house arrest measures sufficient?
In December 2024, the League for Human Rights filed a complaint with the Agency for Domestic Affairs. This was about the house arrests that Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever ordered for several young people on New Year’s Eve. Kati Verstrepen, the chairwoman, confirmed the complaint and said the organization did a careful investigation.
Mayor De Wever claimed the house arrests were legal, but the League found no legal basis for them. Verstrepen noted that they took their time to look into the matter. After their review, the League concluded that there were no legal reasons for these preventive measures.
“We have no problem with measures, but they must have a legal basis”
Kati Verstrepen, Chair of the League for Human Rights
According to the Human Rights League, it understands that the mayor wants to keep people safe. They agree that violence against aid workers and citizens is wrong. However, they believe any actions taken must have a legal basis. If the mayor can act without this, it could lead to more measures against more people, which is risky.
