Young Man Prosecuted for 'Death to You' Message to Belgian Minister

A young man faces prosecution for sending a three-word message, "Mort à toi" (Death to you), to Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden via Telegram. The incident led to charges of "threat of an attack" against the student, identified by the pseudonym Arthur.

Appearing in court on May 6, Arthur expressed sincere regret for his actions. "I was angry. I didn't particularly mean it for Annelies Verlinden. I could have addressed anyone else and written to them: 'Go to hell,'" he stated. Despite his explanation, the public prosecutor's office in Nivelles decided to pursue the case.

Authorities initially faced difficulties locating Arthur, who was preparing for his medical school admission exams. During the hearing, the prosecutor requested a 50-hour community service sentence, arguing that the threat, though perhaps not serious, was still a threat. Arthur's lawyer, Pierre Deutsch, however, argued that the message did not instill genuine terror or serious fear, questioning whether such a short, expletive-laden message on social media truly constituted a prosecutable threat.

The court ultimately granted a simple suspension of the verdict. This decision allows the aspiring doctor to continue with his crucial admission exams without a criminal record impacting his immediate future.

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Je regrette sincèrement. Je m'étais énervé. Je n'en voulais pas spécialement à Annelies Verlinden. J'aurais pu m'adresser à n'importe qui d'autre et lui écrire : "Va te faire foutre."