Majesteitsschennis uit strafwetboek: “eerst zien en dan geloven”
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Wie de koning beledigt, riskeert vandaag nog steeds een celstraf van zes maanden tot drie jaar en een geldboete. Het Vlaams Belang diende al in maart 2021 een wetsvoorstel in om deze bepaling uit het strafwetboek te halen. Minister van Justitie van Quickenborne (Open Vld) kondigde nu aan hetzelfde te willen doen. “Het is goed dat de minister eindelijk ook inziet dat deze bepaling niet thuishoort in het strafwetboek”, reageert fractieleider in de Kamer Barbara Pas. “Maar eerst zien en dan geloven.”
Wie de koning beledigt, kan in principe een gevangenisstraf krijgen van zes maanden tot drie jaar. De bepaling dateert al van 1847 en lijkt vandaag lachwekkend, maar staat nog steeds in het strafwetboek. Het Vlaams Belang diende daarom al in maart 2021 een wetsvoorstel in om deze wettelijke bepaling op te heffen. Enkele maanden later oordeelde het Grondwettelijk Hof dat de wet op majesteitsschennis in strijd is met het recht op vrije meningsuiting.
“Het is niet uitzonderlijk dat Van Quickenborne zaken aankondigt en naderhand het tegenovergestelde doet”
“Ondanks dat zelfs het Grondwettelijk Hof duidelijk stelde dat de wet in strijd is met het recht op vrije meningsuiting, durfde geen enkele traditionele partij het aan om deze overbodige bepaling naar de prullenmand te verwijzen”, zegt Pas.
Nu komt het bericht van minister van Justitie Van Quickenborne dat in het nieuwe strafwetboek, deze strafbepaling niet meer zou worden opgenomen. De koning zou dus eenvoudigweg dezelfde bescherming zou krijgen tegen smaad als eender welke persoon. “Een goede zaak dat men eindelijk tot inzicht komt en ons voorstel alsnog steunt”, besluit Pas. “Maar het is niet uitzonderlijk dat Van Quickenborne zaken aankondigt en naderhand het tegenovergestelde doet. Het blijft de minister van aankondigingen.”