Lawsuit against military presence in Belgian cities

Three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the protection of human rights, the CNAPD, Vrede and Ligue des droits de l'Homme, have filed a lawsuit against the deployment of soldiers in three Belgian cities earlier this year. Legally assisted by the Progress Lawyers Network, the three NGOs filed the complaint against the governors of Antwerp, Brussels and Liège where the soldiers were temporarily stationed after the terrorist threat level in the country was raised from 2 to 3, reports Belgian media.

Following the terrorist attacks in Paris earlier this year, the Belgian government deployed more than 300 soldiers to cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, Verviers, Liege and Charleroi to guard Jewish institutions, schools and districts, as well as European institutions and stations.

After 9 March, the Coordinating Body for Threat Analysis (OCAD) brought the threat level back to 2, but the soldiers continued to perform their duties. On 30 April, the soldiers’ presence on the streets was further extended in Antwep, Brussels and Liège.

According to the NGOs, the presence of soldiers in the cities is illegal, even with a threat level of 3. "According to the law, the military can only be used in the case of an immediate threat,” says Ludo De Brabander of Vrede. "That can only be determined by OCAD and with a threat level of 4."

Moreover, the organisations believe that the army’s presence in the country’s streets creates an atmosphere of anxiety among its citizens.