Arab linked to riot is freed but banned from meetings
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A judge has released the leader of an Arab immigrant group but barred him for three months from public gatherings, which prosecutors say he abused to incite violence during riots in the port city of Antwerp.
Dyab Abou Jahjah, 31, was arrested last Thursday and charged with wilful resistance, including a show of arms, obstruction of traffic and assaulting a police officer. He denied the charges.
The prosecutor's office said it would not appeal against the conditional release. An appeals process could have kept the Lebanese-born head of the Arabic European League in jail for another two weeks.
Police expect his conditional release will ease tension in Antwerp, home of a large North African immigrant community and the base of one of Europe's biggest extreme-right parties.
The league has called for Arabic to become an official Belgian language, argued against the integration of immigrants into Belgian society and sent out squads with video cameras to look for alleged racist police brutality.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments