Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – An activist at KU Leuven was fined €900 for graffiti during pro-Palestinian protests. One defendant was found guilty, ordered to pay damages and a suspended fine, while 4 others were acquitted.
As VRT News reported, an activist who painted graffiti on KU Leuven buildings in May 2024 must pay €900 to the university and the city. Surveillance camera footage helped identify 5 suspects linked to the vandalism. They mentioned that the €900 fine covers damage to university buildings and the disruption caused during the protest.
How did the KU Leuven graffiti protests result in 1 guilty and 4 acquitted?
5 people accused of vandalising KU Leuven buildings appeared in court in early September 2025. The Public Prosecution Service asked for community service for the defendants. KU Leuven requested nearly €2,500 in damages for the university buildings. The city of Leuven requested about €1,300 to cover the cost of removing the graffiti.
The court has delivered its verdict. 1 defendant was found guilty. She must pay €577.72 in damages to KU Leuven and €322 to the city. She also received a suspended fine of €208. The other 4 defendants were acquitted because of insufficient evidence. The court said there was a reasonable doubt about their involvement.
“They cannot be identified with certainty as perpetrators in the camera footage,”
the judge ruled.
In May 2024, pro-Palestinian activists began protests at KU Leuven, including occupying the De Valk building from May 13, 2024. They demanded that the university end all partnerships with Israeli institutions. The occupation lasted until September 2024, ending after a court order forced them to leave. During this period, activists painted graffiti on at least 10 university buildings with messages such as “Genocide Free Gaza” and “Complicit in genocide.”
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