Council of State rejects complaint by Antwerp youth against house arrest on New Year's Eve
The Council of State has rejected the complaint filed by a youngster against the preventive house arrest on New Year's Eve imposed on him by Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever. The legality of the measure will be judged later, after the New Year, which means that the measure can still be annulled.
As in previous years, the city of Antwerp issued preventive house arrest orders for New Year's Eve to dozens of youngsters. These youngsters are mainly repeat offenders who had caused a nuisance on New Year's Eve in previous years. This year, Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever imposed such a preventive house arrest on 51 youngsters, with the aim of “creating a carefree New Year's Eve”. The police conduct checks on New Year's Eve to ensure that those under house arrest comply with the measure.
The measure was recently criticised and a 17-year-old boy went to the Council of State to challenge De Wever's decision with a highly urgent emergency procedure. But the Council of State's auditor made it clear at a new hearing on Tuesday morning that there was no urgency. He therefore recommended dismissing the youngster’s appeal.
The Council of State followed that advice. The decision makes it illegal for the youngster to leave his home between 6 pm on 31 December and 8 am on 1 January 2025. The house arrest does not apply if the repeat offender is abroad during that period. The youngster initially wanted to travel to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, but due to his mother's illness, he backtracked on that request.
“We understand that it was not urgent enough,” the youngster's lawyer Abderrahim Lahlali responded to newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen. “But to be clear, the legality of the measure has not yet been judged. That will be judged later. Then the measure can still be annulled.”
#FlandersNewsService | Fireworks during New Year celebrations in Antwerp © BELGA PHOTO JORGE DIRKX
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