https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.543369/gov.uscourts.nysd.543369.2.0.pdf

Belgian Court Rules ‘Factually Correct’ Remarks Can Be Hate Speech

A Belgian court has ruled that even “factually correct” statements can constitute criminal hate speech if used to “incite hatred.”

The ruling came as anti-migration activist Dries Van Langenhove was convicted for a second time over remarks linking mass migration to crime.

This is Van Langenhove’s second such conviction, following a speech he delivered at a university in Leuven in February 2024, in which he linked mass migration to crime.

The activist on Tuesday quoted the judge as writing in his ruling:

Even if all of the statements made by Van Langenhove are based on scientific evidence and statistics, it makes no difference to the criminal intent. Van Langenhove is not charged with spreading false information. He is charged with presenting facts in a way that incites hatred against persons on the grounds of one or more of the protected criteria in the Anti-Racism Law.

Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek described the judge’s comments as proof that the establishment is “criminalising the truth.” She called on European conservatives to “come together” in Van Langenhove’s defence.

Former German MP Frauke Petry also criticised the ruling as “completely insane,” asking:

What have the politicians made of this beautiful Europe?

And Rod Dreher said the “staggering” conviction raised the question: “Why do people stand for it?”

The news has even gained the attention of U.S. under secretary of state Sarah B. Rogers, who warned: “Policymakers worried about the rise of the so-called ‘far right’ should avoid criminalising accurate, data-driven political speech about mass migration—as this ruling appears to explicitly contemplate.”

Doing so means that people willing to be convicted of ‘racism’ get a monopoly on making arguments that strike large segments of the public as important and true.

Van Langenhove said he avoided prison only because of what he described as a “technicality” in Belgian law.

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news-corner/belgian-court-rules-factually-correct-remarks-can-be-hate-speech/

UN Secretary-General warns of system collapse

António Guterres warned the Security Council today that the international system is facing its deepest crisis since 1945.

Deepening mistrust, the proliferation of AI-driven autonomous weapons, and record-high military spending are undermining the UN Charter.

The Secretary-General explicitly cited the lack of African representation on the Security Council as a “historic injustice” fueling instability.

Full transcript of Guterres’ remarks https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statements/2026-05-26/secretary-generals-remarks-the-united-nations-security-council-upholding-the-purposes-and-principles-of-the-un-charter-and-strengthening-the-un-centred-international

Worldwide arms race

Beyond the conflicts, the Secretary-General warned of what he described as a destabilising global arms race unfolding alongside cuts to development and humanitarian aid.

“Global military spending is at record levels, even as deadly weapons get cheaper to produce and resources for development and humanitarian needs get slashed,” he said.

At the centre of his remarks was a call to restore confidence in multilateral institutions through diplomacy, accountability and reform.

Shun double standards

He urged Member States to invest more heavily in conflict prevention and mediation, uphold international law “without selectivity” or “double standards”, and reform global institutions to reflect modern geopolitical realities.

“Global institutions must reflect today’s realities – not those of 1945,” he said, pointing to the absence of permanent African representation on the Security Council as “a historic injustice” that undermined the body’s legitimacy and effectiveness.

Mr. Guterres concluded with a direct appeal to Council members to move beyond rhetoric and act collectively to preserve international peace and security.

“The world is watching – and demanding action, not just words,” he said.

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167589