Dries Van Langenhove, a Belgian far-right activist, has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined 16,000 euros for hate speech.

The conviction includes a 10-year ban from participating in elections due to his racist, misogynistic, and anti-Semitic activities.

Van Langenhove's involvement with the groups Schild en Vrienden and Vlaams Belang led to his downfall after a journalist exposed their offensive online content.

His decision not to defend himself in court has caused a stir, with criticism from the president of Vlaams Belang towards the Belgian justice system.

Five other individuals received lighter sentences in connection with the group, highlighting ongoing concerns about far-right extremism in Europe.