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Paul Goossens, EU-journalist at the Belgian press agency BELGA: "the Irish, a nation of parochial traditions, penny-pinching misers, catholicism and alcohol"
06/17/2008 :: Complaint by Vlaams Belang against racist hate speech at Belgian Centre against Racism
The victory of the 'no' in the referendum on the Lisbon treaty has left politicians and journalists frustrated. Whether one supported the 'yes' or the 'no', if one says that Europe is built upon democracy, one should respect the outcome of a democratic referendum, but this is obviously not the case.
Paul Goossens, responsible for the European section of the official Belgian press agency BELGA, has written in the newspaper 'De Morgen' on 14/6/2008 that the Irish are a nation 'of parochial traditions, penny-pinching misers, catholicism and alcohol'.
Vlaams Belang defends freedom of expression for everyone, but a majority in Belgium has decided that there has to be a 'law against racism' that makes incitement to hatred based on ethnic origin a crime. This law makes sure that anyone, writing such a thing about Moroccans or Turks in combination with their religion and the alleged use of drugs, faces a criminal procedure.
Therefore we have decided to file a complaint against Paul Goossens at the Centre against Racism in Belgium because of incitement to hatred against the Irish people. If one proclaims laws against 'hate speech', they should be applied to all.
The Vlaams Belang will also send a letter to the Irish embassy to apologize for these inappropriate remarks in order to underline that the people of Flanders are very positive towards Ireland, and to point out that we in Flanders, too, hope to be soon no longer a 'province', but 'a nation once again'!
Frank Vanhecke, MEP
Philip Claeys, MEP
Koen Dillen, MEP
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