Belgian Politician Convicted for Gender Discrimination on Live TV

At the time, the Anderlecht municipal councilor had refused to dialogue and look at the columnist Emmanuelle Praet on the set on the grounds that she was a woman. Redouane Ahrouch then invoked freedom of expression, thought and religion, recalls Le Soir.

Prosecuted in court, the politician was convicted, first at first instance, then on appeal, last February, to four months’ suspended imprisonment under the law on sexism. He should also pay compensation of 1,000 euros to Emmanuelle Praet and one symbolic euro to the Institute for Equality between Women and Men. Dissatisfied, he had appealed to the Court of Cassation.

The verdict was handed down this Monday and Redouane Ahrouch is now definitively settled on his fate, the newspaper points out. The Court of Cassation confirmed the Court of Appeal’s ruling, explaining that the conviction is justified by: "the intention to express contempt for a person or to consider them as inferior is likely to seriously undermine the dignity of that person."

As for "freedom of expression", it is not "absolute", we can also read: "The imperative social needs, of which the principle of equality between men and women is a part, justify certain restrictions on freedom of expression."