The court of appeal in Ghent has postponed the case of plastic surgeon Jeff Hoeyberghs to 24 January. Hoeyberghs was given a 10-month prison sentence in the first instance, half of which was suspended, for, among other things, sexism and discrimination. He appealed his sentence.
Jeff Hoeyberghs had to answer to the court for sexism and discrimination after a much-discussed lecture at Ghent University in 2019. At the invitation of the conservative Flemish student association Katholiek Vlaams Hoogstudentenverbond (KVHV), Hoeyberghs gave a lecture at Ghent University on 4 December 2019 during which he made a series of sexist and derogatory comments.
He said, among other things: “Women do want the privileges of male protection and money. But they do not want to open their legs anymore.” On 4 January this year, Hoeyberghs was sentenced to 10 months in prison, half of which was suspended.
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Hoeyberghs has always maintained that he did not do anything criminal, that he did not break any laws and that his freedom of expression was violated by this verdict. His lawyers therefore filed an appeal.
At the 20 September introductory hearing before the Court of Appeal, his lawyers asked for time limits to put their arguments on paper. The court answered that question and decided to postpone the case to 24 January.
The chairman also indicated that the court would appreciate it if Jeff Hoeyberghs would also be present in person that day.
