Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever has ordered 47 teenagers to face house arrest from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. on New Year’s Eve for the third consecutive year due to past disturbances. One affected teen is challenging the order in court, with a hearing set for December 27, 2024, raising questions about the legality of such measures.
In Antwerp, 47 teenagers have been made to stay indoors on New Year’s Eve. Under house arrest, Mayor Bart De Wever has ordered these teenagers to stay home starting from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. The police have been instructed to check in on them to ensure they don’t go out. According to the mayor, it is the third year such action has been taken given the determination problems of fire and dangerous fireworks during such celebrations. One of the teenagers affected by this decision is fighting it in court, and the hearing is scheduled for December 27, 2024. The teen’s lawyer confirmed the date but did not say anything else.
Is Antwerp’s Mayor Bart De Wever overstepping authority with house arrest for teens?
A 17-year-old boy in Antwerp is facing house arrest again this New Year’s Eve. He has a history of trouble, with five reports filed against him this year. His family thinks it’s unfair and has hired a lawyer to fight the decision. They say the mayor’s actions punish the whole family and ruin their holiday. This situation is significant because it marks the first time someone is challenging the mayor’s authority. Experts are now wondering if he has the legal right to enforce these measures.
Lawyers argue that the house arrest for the 17-year-old is too severe and that there are better alternatives. They suggest the mayor could have simply prohibited the 47 young people from certain areas. A spokesperson for Bart De Wever stated they are aware of an appeal regarding one of the measures and are awaiting a decision from the Council of State, which is expected to be announced on December 27, 2024.