In a dramatic turn of events, a conservative conference in Brussels faces police intervention and allegations of speech suppression, sparking debates about the limits of free expression in democracy. Here’s the full story.
Far Right Conference
The National Conservatism Conference in Brussels, which featured a host of far-right figures such as Nigel Farage, Suella Braverman, and Viktor Orban, turned farcical when police intervened to shut it down.
“Extremely Disturbing”
The move, called “extremely disturbing” by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has sparked debates about the limits of free speech and political interference.
“Advocator For Free Speech”
A UK Government spokesperson stated, “Clearly, these reports are extremely disturbing. The Prime Minister is a strong supporter and advocator for free speech, and he believes that should be fundamental to any democracy.”
“No-Platforming Speakers”
They continued, “Speaking more broadly to the principle of such events, he is very clear that cancelling events or preventing attendance and no-platforming speakers is damaging to free speech and to democracy as a result. He is very clear that free debate and the exchange of views is vital, even where you disagree.”
“Unconstitutional”
The shutdown event also prompted a strong reaction from Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who wrote on online, “Banning political meetings is unconstitutional. Full stop.”
Court Ordered Closure
The event was disrupted after police entered the venue during Nigel Farage’s speech to serve a court order demanding its immediate closure.
Public Disorder
The court documents, which were seen by several right-wing newspapers, including the UK’s Telegraph, cited serious concerns over potential public disorder, homophobia or offence to minorities arising from the speeches delivered by the right-wing ideologues on the stage. These allegations led to the abrupt halt of the conference.
Antifascist Coordination of Belgium
The organisers attempted to relocate the conference at short notice, apparently due to alleged political pressure from the city’s left-wing mayor Emir Kir, after a conference hall and a hotel separately cancelled the event bookings following pressure from an activist group called “Antifascist coordination of Belgium.”
Anti-Gay and Anti-Abortion
Kir released a statement to the media, which drew attention to some of the attendee’s extreme anti-gay and anti-abortion views.
“The Far Right is Not Welcome”
It said, “Among these personalities, there are several, particularly from the right-conservative, religious right and European extreme right.” Kir then released a separate message online, saying, “The far right is not welcome.”
Farage Furore
Nigel Farage, who had said the police would have to drag him from the stage to stop his speech, took to the national right-wing newspaper, the Telegraph, to lament the attack on his freedom of speech.
“Cancel Culture”
Farage wrote, “Cancel culture is saying: ‘I do not want to hear your opinion.’ What happened today is an updated form of Soviet communism. It says that no other view is allowed, that anybody that holds it is, by definition, mad, bad, and dangerous. It’s an approach that has, and will always, fail in the end.”
Infringing on Free Speech
Other speakers at the conference, including disgraced former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who recently said she would not tell her children that transgender people exist, criticised the intervention as an infringement on free speech.
“Brussels Thought Police”
Braverman condemned what she termed as “Brussels thought police” for suppressing far-right voices from being heard.
Misquoting Margaret Thatcher
Braverman told reporters outside the event, “I remember the words of Mrs Thatcher, and I’m going to misquote her, but the more ridiculous and far-fetched and extremist their attempts are to silence us, the more cheered on I am. Because it just shows that they’ve lost their political argument.”
250 Attendees
Despite the event space’s capacity of up to 850 people, only 250 were in attendance.
Ironic Twist
Ironically, considering the extreme anti-immigration views held by many speakers at the conference, the event was organised at the Claridge Club, owned by Lassaad Ben Yaghlane, a Belgian Tunisian businessman.
Vehement Disagreement
Yaghlane disagreed with the speakers’ and attendees’ views, stating, “These are not the people I normally share the same values with.”
More Open World
He continued, “The difference is that I understand they want stability and maintaining [of] traditional values, but we live in a world that evolves a lot at the moment and needs more openness and acceptance for the values of others.”
Serious Doubts
Serious doubts now hang over the event’s future, and a protracted legal battle to overturn the court order shutting down the event may not be resolved in time.
“Undermined and Overthrown”
The event was organised by the Edmund Burke Foundation, a right-wing think tank that campaigns against further European integration and “traditional values” that it claims are being “undermined and overthrown.”
Anti-Democratic Forces
Whilst many on the right have condemned the shutting down of the event as a shuttering of free speech, others have hailed it as a brave attempt to shut down many of the most anti-democratic voices from speaking in the home of European democracy.
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The post “Extremely Disturbing” – Far-Right Shutdown in Brussels Received Condemnation From Many first appeared on Edge Media.
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Grant Gallacher is a seasoned writer with expertise in politics and impactful daily news. His work, deeply rooted in addressing issues that resonate with a wide audience, showcases an unwavering commitment to bringing forth the stories that matter. He is also known for satirical writing and stand up comedy.