The administrative arrest of Alexis Deswaef by Brussels Police occurred on Place de la Bourse, a square of the capital, during an anti-fascist and anti-racist demonstration on April 2 in the context of the commemorations of the terrorist attacks that hit the city earlier this year.

Along with the Belgian League of Human Rights, the organizations the International Federation for Human of Human Rights (FIDH)and the European Association for the Defense of Human Rights (AEDH) immediately condemned and strongly contested the arrest of the LDH chairman.

Alarming arrest

The organizations are concerned about the image that Belgium reflects worldwide by arresting the chairman of a human rights organization. This arrest, unprecedented in a democracy, is alarming and highlights important issues regarding respect of fundamental rights. These include freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, and the freedom of their advocates, at a time when these rights are seriously endangered by the perpetrators of terrorist acts.

FIDH and AEDH believe this arrest is contrary to the message sent by Belgian authorities, who claim not to succumb to terror and to guarantee the respect for democratic values and fundamental rights.

Therefore, FIDH and AEDH decided to join the LDH in lodging a complaint against unknown persons in order to guarantee these rights at all times and in all places, specially because Western democracies are not immune to abuses in these troubled times.