Belgium’s High Court Refuses to Overturn Brussels’ Mayor Freddy Thielemans’ demonstration ban against Stop the Islamistation of Europe. The Baron has more:

The Belgian Council of State has surprised everyone (especially me) and ruled speedily on the matter of the SIOE demo. Its promptness is probably explained by the fact that it has decided against the demonstration, backing up the mayor of Brussels.

The authorities apparently decided that they were able to understand SIOE’s appeal after all, despite the fact that it wasn’t delivered to them in French.

Brussels Journal explains some of the politics at play:

According to the CoS Udo Ulfkotte cannot prove that his interests have been harmed by the mayor’s ban.

This verdict may sound nonsensical to non-Belgians, but in Belgium it is not considered harmful to have one’s political freedoms restricted. In Belgium it is also considered quite normal that the lawyer representing Mayor Thielemans before the CoS is Marc Uyttendaele. The latter is one of the most expensive lawyers in the country. He is also the husband of Laurette Onkelinx, the Belgian minister of Justice, who is responsible for appointing, promoting and suspending judges.

Many have indicated they still intend appear in Brussels regardless, SIOE has more.