A Brussels man was sentenced on Monday for "sex-based discrimination" of a transgender woman. He faces one year in prison and a €5,000 fine.
The man harassed Samantha Warginaire, a transgender woman from Brussels, over the phone in 2021. He obtained Warginaire's phone number online and between November and December sent a barrage of insulting, transphobic and homophobic messages as well as 14 separate phone calls.
Once the offending messages and calls were traced back to the perpetrator, Warginaire decided to report the incident. Her case was supported by Unia, the Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities.
The Brussels Correctional Court sentenced the man on Monday morning, where he received a firm one-year prison term and was ordered to pay €5,000 in compensation to the victim for harassment, aggravated by discrimination based on the victim's gender.
"I am satisfied with the verdict and glad that the trial is over," Warginaire told Belga News Agency. "It is vital for harassment to be recognised as truly punishable behaviour. We hope this verdict will deter others from any form of harassment."
"I believe my case can set a precedent, and today's verdict can give hope to transgender individuals suffering harassment with regard to the outcome of their complaints."
The sentenced individual did not attend any of the hearings or the court ruling on Monday, and he has a history of phone harassment. He was prosecuted for the same offence in 2006.
