Herman Brusselmans will appear in court next week after a controversial column about the Gaza war

The column written by Brusselmans on August 6 this year caused a great stir. The equal opportunities center UNIA and the European Jewish Association (EJA), among others, lodged a complaint. The council chamber decided on October 18 that the latter’s complaint was inadmissible, but the EJA appealed.

The non-profit organization Jewish Information and Documentation Center (JID) did not wait for the court’s investigation, which is still ongoing, and called the Brusselmans directly before the criminal court. He has to show up there next week. The call is therefore separate from the investigation by the public prosecutor’s office and the complaints from other Jewish groups.

Omar Souidi, who defends Brussels, confirms the call. “I don’t know yet if Herman will be there, but I suspect he will be. We still have to discuss that.” The lawyer does not want to analyze the contents of the summons, but it is said that the main accusations revolve around racism and anti-Semitism.

According to Souidi, arguments can be made immediately at the preliminary hearing. “But the court can also decide that decision times must be agreed.” There will be more clarity about this on November 5.