Brussels attacks trial: Flemish victims have to translate their own documents

Dutch-speaking victims at the 2016 Brussels terror attacks trial need to have all the documents they use for damage claims translated into French by themselves. As the proceedings are in French, documents in Dutch cannot be admitted, De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad reported on Wednesday.

To prove their psychological and/or material damage, victims of the Brussels attacks must have documents added to their civil cases, such as medical or psychological reports.

A letter from the court registry now reveals that many of these cannot be accepted because they are in Dutch. "As the proceedings are in French, these documents must be translated," the letter states.

The obligation to file all documents in French has caused unease among the victims. They are also unsure whether or not the translations must be performed by a sworn-in translator.

Legal experts say there is little that can be done about the situation, as it is laid down by law that any official documents must be in the language of the proceedings.

(BRV)

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