Brusselmans, a well-known writer, poet and playwright, made the original remarks in the Flemish magazine HUMO, writing: "I see a picture of a crying, screaming Palestinian child, completely overwhelmed, calling for his mother who lies under the rubble, and I imagine that child is my son Roman, and the mother is my partner Lena. I am so angry that I want to shove a sharp knife into the throat of every Jew I encounter."
Belgian media quoted the judge's ruling, which stated: "The court acknowledges that members of the Jewish community may have been hurt by some of the statements, but emphasizes that the writer’s words are protected by the right to freedom of expression." The judge described that right as "one of the central pillars of our democratic society."
The ruling further stated that Brusselmans' comments were intended as a critique in his known writing style and were meant to provoke, but "did not cross criminal boundaries." The judge added that the remarks should be read within the broader context of the column, which "gives them a different content and meaning." The court concluded that the columnist did not seek to incite hatred or violence against the Jewish community or deny the Holocaust.
The acquittal has sparked outrage among European Jewish communities. Rabbi Menachem Margolin, chairman of the European Jewish Association, strongly condemned the decision, calling it a deeply troubling message about the state of the fight against antisemitism in Europe.
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"Today, the Belgian judicial system set a dangerous precedent: hate crime laws are flexible — and when it comes to Jews, they suddenly disappear," Margolin said. "This ruling creates an unacceptable precedent — it effectively grants legitimacy to someone with an audience of hundreds of thousands to publicly call for the murder of Jews without facing any legal consequences."
Margolin criticized the court, saying, "With this decision, the Belgian judicial system sends a dangerous message: incitement to murder and hatred can be reinterpreted, justified, and ultimately legitimized—at least when the target is Jews. This ruling is not just a legal mistake; it is a complete betrayal of fundamental principles of the rule of law."
While acknowledging the importance of free speech in any democracy, Margolin said it has limits. "The line is crossed when it is used to incite, harm and endanger another group in society — regardless of their background. Freedom of speech is not freedom to spread hatred and antisemitism. When the judiciary legitimizes incitement, it erodes the very foundations of democracy," he said.
He urged the Belgian government to enact legislation to prevent similar acquittals in the future. "Europe and its democracies must stand at the forefront of the fight against antisemitism. Allowing this precedent to stand means inviting the worst kind of deterioration," he warned.