Is it a crime to shout at, humiliate or hit my partner or child at home?
In short
Yes, it is a crime. The new Criminal Code (Strafwetboek / Code pénal) punishes physical violence in the family, and also psychological violence such as constant humiliation.
Video transcript
An argument at home is getting out of hand. You shout at your partner and humiliate them. Not allowed: Physical violence is a crime, and so is psychological violence like constant humiliation. Doing it in front of a child makes it worse. The right way: If you face violence, you're not alone: emergency 112, police 101. In Flanders 1712, in Wallonia and Brussels 0800 30 030. Consequences (Level 2 – 5 offence): Depending on injuries: 6 months – 10 years prison; Degrading treatment: 3 – 5 years prison; Prosecutor: Home ban up to 14 days.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Violence against your spouse, partner, child, parent, brother or sister or a close relative is domestic violence (art. 201). The level goes from 2 to 4, depending on how serious the injuries are. If the violence causes death, it is level 5.
- Knowingly and seriously humiliating someone in the family is also a crime: degrading treatment in the family (art. 130) is level 3.
- Deliberately making a family member suffer severely is inhuman treatment within the family (art. 125, level 4); the most serious form is torture within the family (art. 117, level 5). If it is done in the name of culture, custom, tradition, religion or so-called 'honour', the judge takes this into account as an aggravating factor when deciding the penalty (arts. 131 and 204).
- If the violence happened in front of a child, the judge takes this into account as an aggravating factor when deciding the penalty.
- If you are experiencing violence, you are not alone. In an emergency, call 112; for the police, call 101. In Flanders: 1712 (free, anonymous; by phone on weekdays 09.00–18.00, also chat and e-mail). In Wallonia and Brussels, for violence by a spouse or partner: 0800 30 030 (Écoute Violences Conjugales; free, anonymous; chat available too).
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- At this level the main penalty is prison or an alternative penalty. The victim can also claim compensation separately.
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36ejustice.just.fgov.be
- Court / prison
- From level 2 (6 months – 3 years) to level 4 (5 – 10 years), depending on how serious the injuries are; if the violence causes death, level 5 (10 – 15 years in prison); psychological violence (art. 130) is level 3: 3 – 5 years in prison; inhuman treatment within the family level 4 (5 – 10 years), torture within the family level 5 (10 – 15 years in prison)
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36Boek II art. 201 4°
What does this level mean? Criminal Code, level 2: 6 months – 3 years in prison or an alternative sentence. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- The public prosecutor can remove a violent adult from the home for up to 14 days (tijdelijk huisverbod / interdiction temporaire de résidence). The family court can extend this to up to 3 months. Not respecting this ban is also a crime (level 2).
Legal basis:Wet 15.5.2012 tijdelijk huisverbod, art. 3, 5
- It can appear on your criminal record extract (uittreksel uit het strafregister / extrait de casier judiciaire). This can cause problems when you apply for jobs.
Legal basis:Sv. art. 590, 595
- For serious or repeated crimes, your residence permit can be taken away or not renewed. Your citizenship application can be blocked.
Legal basis:Vreemdelingenwet 15.12.1980, art. 21, 13 §1 + WBN 28.6.1984, art. 15 §3
- It can affect decisions about custody and contact with the child
Legal basis:oud BW art. 374 §1
What do these terms mean?
- Criminal record
- The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.
Why does this rule exist?
Home should be the safest place for everyone. Psychological violence also leaves marks. A child who grows up seeing violence learns that violence is a way to solve problems. This rule protects every member of the family.
Where can you go?
- Violence helplineFlanders 1712 (weekdays 09–18) · Wallonia and Brussels 0800 30 030 (partner violence), 103 (child abuse) · Emergency 112
- Child and family servicesFlanders: Kind en Gezin / Opgroeien · Wallonia and Brussels: ONE
- School guidance centreThe school's CLB / centre PMS
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 21 / 21 statements in an official source
- Checked: 02.11.2026
- Last checked
- 22.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 21 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Aile içi fiziksel ve psikolojik şiddet yasaktır (YASAK)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 130 en 201 - Found in an official source
Eşe, partnere, çocuğa, anne-babaya, kardeşe, yakın akrabaya şiddet aile içi şiddettir (md. 201); seviye yaralanmaya göre 2–5
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 201 - Found in an official source
Aile içi aşağılayıcı muamele (md. 130) seviye 3
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 128 en 130 - Found in an official source
Şiddetin çocuğun yanında yapılması cezayı ağırlaştırır
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 201 laatste lid - Found in an official source
Acil 112, polis 101
Vlaanderen.be – Hulplijn 1712 - Found in an official source
1712: ücretsiz, anonim; hafta içi 09.00–18.00 telefon; sohbet ve e-posta
Vlaanderen.be – Hulplijn geweld, misbruik en kindermishandeling 1712 - Found in an official source
0800 30 030 Écoute Violences Conjugales; ücretsiz, anonim; sohbet var; Valonya ve Brüksel
Écoute Violences Conjugales – ana sayfa - Found in an official source
Seviye 2 = 6 ay–3 yıl; seviye 5 = 10–15 yıl; seviye 3 = 3–5 yıl
Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Seviye 2'de ana ceza hapis veya alternatif cezadır
Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Geçici ev yasağı: savcı en fazla 14 gün; aile mahkemesi en fazla 3 ay uzatabilir; uymamak seviye 2
Wet 15.5.2012 tijdelijk huisverbod, art. 3, 5 - Found in an official source
Ağır suçlarda oturum izni geri alınabilir / vatandaşlık engellenebilir
Vreemdelingenwet 15.12.1980, art. 21, 13 §1 + WBN 28.6.1984, art. 15 §3 - Found in an official source
Mahkûmiyet Strafregister'e işlenir; uittreksel bu kayıtları gösterir
Sv. art. 590, 595 - Found in an official source
Aile mahkemesi velayeti tek ebeveyne verebilir; görüşme ancak çok ağır nedenle reddedilir
oud BW art. 374 §1 - Found in an official source
Aile içi insanlık dışı muamele, seviye 4 (md. 125)
Code pénal livre II (Loi 29.2.2024), Justel FR konsolide metin, art. 125 (madde numarası: Justel NL inhoudstafel) - Found in an official source
Aile içi işkence, seviye 5 (md. 117)
Code pénal livre II (Loi 29.2.2024), Justel FR konsolide metin, art. 117 (madde numarası: Justel NL inhoudstafel) - Found in an official source
Kültür, gelenek, din veya 'namus' adına işlenmesi ağırlaştırıcı (md. 131 ve 204)
Code pénal livre II (Loi 29.2.2024), Justel FR konsolide metin, art. 131 ve 204 (madde numarası: Justel NL inhoudstafel) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Kanun cezanın otomatik arttığını söylemiyor. Yalnızca hâkimin cezayı seçerken bunu dikkate alacağını söylüyor. Kartın kendi rules[2] maddesi aynı yapıyı doğru biçimde 'hâkim dikkate alır' diye yazıyor.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Kanunun iki şartı kartta yok: davranış kasıtlı olmalı ve ağır bir aşağılanmaya yol açmalı. Kart her türlü onur kırıcı davranışı suç gibi gösteriyor.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Tazminat kendiliğinden değil, mağdur isterse
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): Seviye yaralanmaya göre 2'den 5'e
Boek II art. 201 - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): 'Seviye 5 (10–15 yıl) arası, yaralanmaya göre'
Boek II art. 201 4°
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?