Belgium

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 30 March 2005 IFJ media release: 30 March 2005 IFJ Backs New Court Bid In Protection of Journalists’ Sources Battle With European Commission The International Federation of Journalists today joined a former Brussels investigative reporter in his legal fight in the European Court to overturn action by the European […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 21 March 2005 IFJ media release: European Journalists Welcome “Landmark Victory” in Belgium for Protection of Sources The European Federation of Journalists today welcomed the adoption of a long overdue law on protection of journalists’ sources in Belgium, which was voted unanimously on March 17 by the Belgian Chamber […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the 25 January 2005 police interrogation of reporter Anne De Graaf and editor-in-chief Yves Desmet, of the Flemish-language newspaper “De Morgen”. The journalists were questioned about their sources for a May 2004 report on police fears of a terrorist attack in Antwerp. De Graaf and Desmet were questioned at the […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ Vows to Carry On Fight for Protection of Journalists’ Sources After European Court Defeat The International Federation of Journalists today said it was determined to continue the fight in the case of an investigative journalist seeking to protect his sources despite a court decision that […]

(JED/IFEX) – Marc Tabu, a Congolese music critic based in Brussels, suffered injuries to the head on 10 July 2004, at approximately 5:00 a.m. (local time), following a violent attack by one Tony Osvaldo, also known as Tony Mokomboso. Osvaldo, who is of Angolan nationality, is a bodyguard for the Congolese musician Antoine Agbepa Mumba, […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: “Never Again”, Vows IFJ, As Court Battle Begins Over Belgian Action Against Investigative Reporter The International Federation of Journalists today accused senior officials of the European Union and Belgian justice authorities of a “cowardly, spiteful and unjust” campaign against a news reporter after police ended an […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 27 March 2004 IFJ media release: Journalists Welcome Belgian Professional Secrecy Law But Fears Remain Over Security Exception The International Federation of Journalists and its regional body, the European Federation of Journalists, have welcomed moves in Belgium to adopt a long overdue law on protection of journalists’ sources, but […]

(IPI/IFEX) – The following is a 24 March 2004 IPI letter to Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Laurette Onkelinx: H.E. Mr. Guy Verhofstadt Prime Minister Brussels Belgium Fax: +322-512 69 53 / 511 5021 H.E. Ms. Laurette Onkelinx Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Brussels Belgium Fax: […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Belgian Raid on Reporter Sparks IFJ Alert Over Threat to Journalists’ Rights The International Federation of Journalists today warned of an all-out attack on legitimate investigative reporting following the detention of a leading journalist in Brussels and the police raid on his office. Earlier today, Hans-Martin […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 16 July 2003 IFJ media release: Belgian Victory for Protection of Sources The European Federation of Journalists welcomed a breakthrough decision for the protection of sources in Belgium. The EFJ congratulated the General Association of Professional Journalists of Belgium (AGJPB) following yesterday’s ruling by the European Court of Human […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 19 June 2002 IFJ press release: IFJ Calls on European Court to Guarantee Journalists’ Right to Protection of Sources The IFJ and its regional organisation, the European Federation of Journalists are calling on the European Court of Human Rights to protect the right of journalists to protect their sources […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 May 2002, a Brussels court ordered Douglas de Coninck and Marc Vendermeir, two reporters from the Belgian daily newspaper “De Morgen”, to pay 25 euros (approx. US$23.50) per hour for every hour that they continue to refuse to reveal their sources for an 11 May article which reported that Belgian State […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: World Journalists Back Belgian Strike Action After Reporter is Jailed The International Federation of Journalists today called for the immediate release of a reporter who was jailed yesterday in Brussels for being found in possession of a confidential file concerning paedophilia. The arrest and imprisonment of […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 6 February 2002 joint press release by the IFJ and the Association générale des journalistes professionnels de Belgique (AGJPB): PRESS RELEASE OF THE ASSOCIATION GENERALE DES JOURNALISTES PROFESSIONNELS DE BELGIQUE (AGJPB) AND THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS (IFJ) Journalists’ materials seized by Steenokkerzeel police On 26 January, the Steenokkerzeel […]

(AMARC/IFEX) – The following letter to Madame Laurette Onkelinx, Ministre-Présidente de la Communauté Française, was issued by AMARC Europe on 9 November 1998: Dear Madam Laurette Onkelinx, I am writing on behalf of the European Section of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters to express our concern following news that the transmitter of Radio […]

On 18 September 1996, Belgian police raided the offices and homes of several Kurdish institutions and people in exile in Belgium. Among the raids was that of the licensed Kurdish MED-TV television station in Brussels. Police confiscated archival material and closed down the station’s office, forcing it to discontinue broadcasting. Recommended Action Send appeals to […]