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Belgium: Study indicates bias in Brussels courts

01 November 1998

An academic study has revealed that more than half of all cases coming before Brussels courts involve youths of Turkish or Moroccan descent. Only 35% of cases involve youths of Belgian or west-European descent. The study, carried out by Christel Calistri of Louvain University, shows that 65% of all cases in Brussels courts involve youths under twenty-five, most of whom were unemployed. Calistri also exposed the increasingly rough nature of the justice being carried out under the so-called snelrecht ("fast law") procedures instituted to speed up the justice process. Calistri claims that "the prosecution policy has become far harsher since the creation of the fast law programme. Cases that used never to reach the courts now end up in the fast law system". One researcher noted that there had been cases of migrant youths receiving jail sentences for stealing sweets or a can of lemonade.

Calistri's conclusions cast doubt on the nature of the justice handed under fast-track procedures such as the "fast law" system. She also questions whether fast track procedures actually speed up justice at all:

"one fifth of all those accused faced minor shoplifting charges, whilst the courts were forced to adjourn on average 11 cases at each sitting.. the fast law procedure in will in fact lead to the slowing down of justice in the long term".

Solidaire, 18.11.98.