Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002428/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Paolo Inselvini (ECR), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Nicola Procaccini (ECR), Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR), Miriam Lexmann (PPE), Ruggero Razza (ECR), Giovanni Crosetto (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Margarita de la Pisa Carrión (PfE), Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR), Daniele Polato (ECR), Michele Picaro (ECR), Marion Maréchal (ECR), Marco Squarta (ECR), Nicolas Bay (ECR), Laurence Trochu (ECR), Chiara Gemma (ECR), Stephen Nikola Bartulica (ECR), Francesco Ventola (ECR), Mariusz Kamiński (ECR)
On 4 June 2025, two pro-life advocates – Lois McLatchie Miller and Chris Elston – were arrested by Belgian police while peacefully demonstrating their convictions on the use of puberty blockers for children and raising awareness about the dangers of these. They were holding signs with messages saying ‘Children are never born in the wrong body’ and ‘Children cannot consent to puberty blockers’, without using offensive language or engaging in violent conduct.
When surrounded by an aggressive crowd, they called the police. They were taken to the police station, searched and released after several hours without any formal charges. They were also informed that their signs had been destroyed.
This incident, incompatible with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and occurring in the heart of the EU, raises serious concerns about freedom of thought and expression, especially regarding opinions on ethically sensitive issues.
- 1.Is the Commission aware of the events described above?
- 2.Does it consider the arrest of individuals peacefully expressing non-violent opinions to be compatible with Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU?
- 3.Does it intend to request clarification from the Belgian authorities in order to safeguard the freedom of expression guaranteed by the aforementioned international instruments?
Submitted: 17.6.2025