BELGIUM: Home raids and arrests of climate activists continue to undermine protest rights
On 11 June 2026, Belgian police launched a major crackdown on the Code Rouge climate justice activist group, carrying out coordinated raids of homes of activists linked to the movement. During the home raids, 19 people were arrested and taken away for police questioning. Six of them were brought before an investigating judge, who placed two of them under electronic surveillance. These arrests were carried out with a disproportionate use of force and without regard for the relatives of these people, including children. The home raids and arrests were linked to investigations of civil disobedience actions carried out by the movement against an agricultural company in Ghent in March 2025 and a mining company in Charleroi in October 2025.
The response from the authorities has been strongly criticised by CSOs, including Greenpeace Belgium. According to organisations, the arrests were an attempt to criminalise social movements rather than address legitimate climate concerns. Using measures and scare tactics like violent home raids and electronic bracelets against activists who have not committed acts of violence sets a dangerous precedent and could silence future dissent and undermine the right to peaceful protest. The incident is linked to a wider crackdown on climate and other social movements in Belgium, including the law to ban “radical organisations”, proposed in late 2025, and police reforms.