Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Belgium found guilty of crimes against humanity in colonial Congo

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 2 Dec 2024 23:15
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Belgium's court of appeals has found the state guilty of crimes against humanity for forcibly separating five mixed-race children from their mothers in colonial Congo, awarding each woman €50,000 in damages

Listen
  • x
  • Marie-Jose Loshi, Monique Bitu Bingi, Lea Tavares Mujinga, Simone Ngalula, and Noelle Verbeeken speak with each other as they look over papers in Brussels, Belgium on June 29, 202. (AP)
    Marie-Jose Loshi, Monique Bitu Bingi, Lea Tavares Mujinga, Simone Ngalula, and Noelle Verbeeken speak with each other as they look over papers in Brussels, Belgium on June 29, 2024. (AP)

The Belgian state has been found guilty of crimes against humanity for forcibly separating five mixed-race children from their mothers in colonial Congo.

Belgium's court of appeals ruled Monday that five women, born in the Belgian Congo and now in their 70s, were victims of "systematic kidnapping" by the state when they were removed from their mothers as small children and sent to Catholic institutions due to their mixed-race heritage.

"This is a victory and a historic judgment," Michèle Hirsch, one of the women's lawyers, told local reporters. "It is the first time in Belgium and probably in Europe that a court has condemned the Belgian colonial state for crimes against humanity."

Monique Bitu Bingi, who was separated from her mother at the age of three, told The Guardian that justice had been served and expressed relief that the judges "recognized that this was a crime against humanity."

She was informed of the decision with the four other ladies who brought the lawsuit to their lawyer's office. "We jumped for joy," she explained.

Noëlle Verbeken, who was abducted from her mother and sent 500 km away, told Belgium's francophone public network RTBF that this decision shows "we are recognized."

Related News

Trump sparks fury with push to revive racist NFL team name

Only one-third of UK anti-racism recommendations implemented

Léa Tavares Mujinga, Simone Ngalula, Marie-José Loshi, Bitu-Bingi, and Verbeken, all born to Congolese mothers and European fathers, were forcibly taken from their families by the Belgian colonial administration between 1948 and 1953 due to their mixed-race heritage and relocated to a Catholic mission in southern Kasaï.

After losing a case in 2021, the five women appealed, challenging the lower court's ruling that their abduction and segregation were not considered crimes under colonial law.

Treated as 'children of sin'

The court of appeals rejected Belgium's defense, noting its commitment to the Nuremberg tribunal legislation and the concept of crimes against humanity. The court ordered Belgium to pay €50,000 in damages to each of the women for the emotional distress caused by their forced separation from their families and loss of identity.

Thousands of children were affected by Belgium's program of forced removals and segregation in its former colonies, though the exact number remains unclear.

The girls, sent to the Katende mission, were registered as "mulattoes," their fathers' names erased or incorrectly listed, and were given new surnames and forged birth dates. At the mission, they were treated as "children of sin" and two were eventually raped during the civil war.

Four of the women eventually gained Belgian citizenship after lengthy legal battles, while Marie-José Loshi, who never received Belgian nationality, moved to France and became a citizen. The court ruled that their struggles with gaining citizenship and official recognition were not crimes against humanity, offering some relief to the Belgian authorities.

In 2018, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel apologized for the mistreatment of mixed-race children, acknowledging a violation of their human rights. The government created a body to help individuals trace their roots and is investigating the full extent of those affected by the policy, though the available records are incomplete.

  • Racism
  • colonial reparations
  • Colonialism
  • Belgium
  • Congo
  • war crimes

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS