On Tuesday, Dries Van Langenhove, the leader of the Flemish nationalist youth movement Schild & Vrienden, is set to appear before the Ghent Criminal Court, accompanied
by six other members. They face a range of charges, including incitement to hatred and violence, stemming from alleged exchanges of racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic messages in a chat group.
The accusations against Van Langenhove and his associates primarily center on violations of the Anti-Racism Act. Six members also face charges related to denying, minimizing, or approving the Holocaust. Additionally, Van Langenhove is accused of violating the Weapons Act after authorities discovered pepper spray during a raid on his residence, which he was also allegedly selling.
In terms of potential penalties, racism and negationism each carry a maximum sentence of one year in prison. Van Langenhove could face up to five years for illegal possession of weapons. Moreover, the accused may be subject to fines, and negationism can result in disqualification.
Rise to Prominence Dries Van Langenhove founded Schild & Vrienden in 2017 while he was a law student. The Flemish nationalist youth movement gained public attention barely a year later when a news report by the Flemish public broadcaster revealed troubling aspects of the organization. Despite evidence of racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic messages within the chat group, Van Langenhove vehemently denied any involvement.
Van Langenhove entered the political arena in 2019 when the far-right Vlaams Belang party recruited him as the list leader for the province of Flemish Brabant in the federal and regional elections. After serving as a federal MP for several years, he stepped down from politics earlier this year, stating that he had "always felt more like an activist than a politician." Consequently, he lost his political immunity.
On Tuesday, Dries Van Langenhove will stand trial alongside six other Schild & Vrienden members, who are considered key figures within the movement's core. Initially, the public prosecutor sought charges against 12 members of Schild & Vrienden, but five were not brought to court and received suspended sentences instead. Photo by L'hoyes Melissa, Wikimedia commons.