The city of Ghent has erased from its graffiti wall the names of 20 individuals implicated in the hazing death of Sanda Dia.
These names had been inscribed on the “graffiti wall”, a pedestrian alleyway in Ghent city centre, adorned with diverse street art. This is the 6th time the accused’s names have appeared on the wall, with local authorities subsequently painting over them, over fear of being complicit in slander and defamation.
Last week, the accused were dubbed “Reuzegom Killers” on the graffiti alley. The city decided to remove these inscriptions, but the protesters persisted, repeating their actions multiple times. On each occasion, the police made an official report, and the names were painted over.
Mayor Mathias De Clercq has expressed empathy for the public outcry following the trial’s outcome. Nevertheless, he maintains support for the rule of law and firmly opposes any attempts at public shaming.
In the previous week, the names of the Reuzegom members had also been inscribed on the city hall’s walls. Municipal officials covered them up, and a complaint was lodged against unknown perpetrators.
On 26 May, 18 Reuzegom members at KU Leuven were found guilty of manslaughter and given community service sentences. This ruling, perceived by many as overly lenient, sparked a series of protests.
