La Regione di Bruxelles invia una lettera di cessazione e desistenza a GAIA a causa della campagna con la falsa bandiera di Bruxelles

**The Brussels Region has formally sent a cease and desist letter to animal rights organisation GAIA for its campaign against unsedated slaughter. The campaign used a modified version of the Brussels flag and a letter purportedly signed by Minister-President Rudi Vervoort. According to the region, GAIA misused the ‘institutional identity’ of the Brussels government, while GAIA calls it an attack on freedom of expression.**

At the end of September, GAIA had hung hundreds of flags in the streets of Brussels. At first glance, they resembled the official flag of the region, with the recognisable yellow iris on a blue background. However, the white heart of the flower had been replaced by a sheep with a bloody tear, a reference to animals that are slaughtered without sedation.

The action was part of a broader campaign against the political deadlock surrounding the Brussels ban on unsedated slaughter, an issue that has been dragging on for years. In addition to the flags, GAIA also distributed thousands of letters in Brussels letterboxes, supposedly from Minister-President Rudi Vervoort (PS). The letter, accompanied by his photo and signature, stated that the sheep would henceforth be the new symbol of Brussels.

This went too far for Fouad Ahidar, who questioned the Prime Minister about it in parliament. ‘I hope that the Region will file a complaint, because this is simply a matter of defending the dignity of our institutions,’ the politician said in a press release.

No formal complaint has been lodged yet, but the Region has sent GAIA a letter of formal notice. Through its lawyers, the Brussels government is demanding that all campaign material be removed immediately, both from the streets and from the website, social media and other communication channels.

**’This is just a parody’**

GAIA has responded with surprise and indignation, strongly condemning the ‘attempt at censorship’ in a statement.

‘We were extremely shocked yesterday, we almost fell off our chairs,’ Ann De Greef, GAIA’s general director, told BRUZZ. ‘It is unbelievable that the region is threatening an NGO and wants to impose censorship, when everyone can see that this is a parody and a caricature?’

According to De Greef, there was never any intention to imitate or mislead Vervoort. ‘Everyone knows he didn’t write that letter. We wouldn’t dream of removing all that.’

‘Vervoort would do better to show some empathy for the 30,000 animals that have their throats cut without sedation every year than to pay expensive solicitors in a region that has been without a government for over a year. But apparently, the man has no shame and is being pushed around by Fouad Ahidar.’

GAIA has informed its lawyer, who has since sent a reply to the region. ‘He refers to the right to freedom of expression, which seems sufficient to us,’ says De Greef. ‘And if it comes to a court case, I will be happy to bring the flag with the sheep on it.’

The so-called letter from Minister-President Rudi Vervoort in GAIA’s campaign was accompanied by a second letter, signed by GAIA chairman Michel Vandenbosch.