Belgian artist sues state over alleged abusive police flagging

A Belgian guitarist has initiated legal proceedings against the Belgian state, alleging that he was unfairly placed on a police watchlist and subsequently subjected to multiple stops. The artist contends that a concert he performed in a church in Crupet, Namur province, in February 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in his illegitimate flagging.

According to the plaintiff, several letters have been sent to the Namur prosecutor's office seeking clarification on the matter, but these have gone unanswered. This lack of response has prompted the artist to pursue legal action.

The musician is now seeking his removal from all relevant databases and has requested one symbolic euro in damages. His lawyer, Jacques Englebert, described the case as "exemplary," suggesting that if an artist can be flagged for performing a concert, many others might be in similar situations.

The lawsuit has been filed before the Court of First Instance in Liège. The artist's claim centers on the perceived misuse of police resources and the impact of being placed on a watchlist without sufficient justification, particularly in relation to a cultural event.

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This case is exemplary. If one is flagged for this, one can imagine that many people are also flagged.