Print out of PDF in English
From 2008, the Belgian State started a large investigation aiming at different struggles – but always without concessions – against detention centres, borders, prisons and the world of authority and exploitation.
In its viewfinder: the anarchist library Acrata, anarchist and
anti-authoritarian publications (Hors Service, La Cavale and Tout doit partir), dozens of flyers and posters, more than a hundred actions, attacks and sabotages…in other words the fight against Power in all its different expressions.
Initially charged with “participation in a terrorist group”, it is
finally under the accusation of “criminal association” that 12 comrades were on trial at the end of April in Brussels. Around the same time, 6 comrades received a convocation for the Chambre du Conseil connected to another investigation that could result in formal accusations for “incitement to commit crimes”.
On the 29th and 30th of April 2019, the trial was held in Brussels
against anarchists prosecuted for “criminal association” as well as for a series of crimes. In 2017 the Chambre du Conseil had already disqualified the accusation of participation in a terrorist group and dropped a number of accusations for which it felt there were not sufficient grounds to charge.
Two defendants attended the trial at the Criminal Court. They refused to answer the questions of the magistrates. The other ten accused did not show up. All were represented by lawyers. Following the oral argument of magistrate Malagnini of the Federal Prosecution, the lawyers took the floor and pleaded inadmissibility and acquittal. For his part, the prosecutor asked for sentences ranging from 100 to 300 hours of community service or a subsidiary sentence ranging from 12 months to 4 years in prison (9 accused), a suspended sentence of 12 months and a fine of 50 euros for one person and acquittal for 2 persons. The accused refused to accept work punishments.
