The Antwerp criminal investigations court (the court which decides if an arrest is maintained and if there will come a criminal court case) saw itself obliged to release Dyab Abou Jahjah. Jahjah was arrest last week on demand of the political establishment. After this there was a search for grounds to justify the arrest, but the release makes clear that these grounds were not found.

The many press reports, going from the presence of weapons till unclear financial sources, obviously haven't been proved to be right. This made that Abou Jahjah was released. The release however was done under conditions: Jahjah is not allowed to take part in political manifestationsin the coming three months.

This condition raises many questions. The fact that Abou Jahjah is not allowed to take part in 'public manifestations' is a serious attack on his possibilities to raise his opinions on demonstrations.

The limitation of free opinions in Antwerp is not limited to Abou Jahjah. Yesterday the city council met, on demand of the Vlaams Blok (who has enough council seats to demand meetings of the city councils), and according to Van Campenhout, leader of the rightwing liberal VLD, the council agreed to ban political leaflets which question the police! According to mayor Detiège (social democrat) the police will only react by making official notices if such leaflets are distributed. What will be the next step? A ban on any criticism on the policy of the city council?

Geert Cool
3 December