Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ghent police are examining the individuals who performed Nazi salutes while the radical right-wing student movement NSV conducted its demonstration on Thursday night.
Authorities from the Ghent police force investigate Nazi salute behavior that occurred during an NSV right-wing student demonstration on Thursday evening. A 500-member group conducted their march towards demanding that immigrants be sent back to their home nations.
Evidence shows participants engaged in a right-arm gesture perceived as the Hitler salute, leading to an anti-racism law violation in Belgium. Authorities will examine the evidence to establish who participated in the Nazi salute incidents before they present the findings to the public prosecutor’s office.
On Thursday evening, about 500 members of the NSV student organization demonstrated in Ghent for immigrant repatriation. The video recordings captured attendees elevating their right hands as if performing the Nazi salute during this demonstration, where such acts violated Belgian anti-racism laws.
The police spokesperson Matto Langeraet declared authorities are identifying those who performed the Nazi salute through analysis of the videos so findings can be transferred to the public prosecutor. A different solidarity march, which left-wing student groups and unions organised, attracted approximately 1,000 participants while responding to the NSV protest.
What is the context behind the NSV demonstration and Nazi salute investigation?
As a far-right organisation, the NSV (Nationalistische Studentenvereniging) represents students in Flanders through its nationalist anti-immigrant activities. The organisation formed its operations in the 1980s despite facing criticism for right-wing violent language, which it rebuts by refuting Neo-Nazi affiliations. Belgium’s anti-racism law (1981) makes all hate speech and Nazi symbols illegal, resulting in either financial penalties or incarceration as punishment.
Survey results indicate that the far-right movement in Flanders leads Vlaams Belang to record approximately 25% support levels. Recent European migration policy protests continue to escalate throughout Europe, along with Belgian asylum requests, which grew by 20% from 2022 to 2023.
The political environment of Belgium shows its polarisation through the protests conducted by opposing political groups that amassed 1000 participants. The city of Ghent, famous for its progressive past, has demonstrated right-wing and left-wing activist clashes throughout recent years. Police investigations of extremist gestures shown at demonstrations have become common practice, as past cases have resulted in anti-racism law prosecutions.
