What should I do if I am attacked because of my origin or religion? Is this a more serious offence?
In short
Yes, it is more serious. Using violence against someone because of their origin, religion or a similar characteristic is violence with a discriminatory motive (levels 2–5). If you are a victim, contact the police and Unia.
Video transcript
Someone in the street shouted at you and attacked you because of your origin. You want to forget it. Not allowed: Violence because of origin or religion is punished one level more heavily than ordinary violence. That's why the attacker's words matter. The right way: Call 112 or 101 and have a doctor record your injuries. File a complaint with the police; report it to Unia too. Attacker's penalty (Level 2 – 5 offence): No or minor injury: 6 months – 3 years prison; Serious injury: 3 – 10 years prison; If someone dies: 10 – 15 years prison.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Violence with a discriminatory motive (discriminerende drijfveer / mobile discriminatoire) is punished one level higher than ordinary violence (Criminal Code art. 199).
- If there is no injury or only a minor one, it is level 2; if the injury is more serious, level 3 or 4; if someone dies, level 5.
- The discriminatory motive does not have to be the attacker's only reason; it is enough for it to be one of them (art. 29). That is why what the attacker said during the attack matters.
- If you are a victim: call 112 if you are in danger, or 101 for the police. See a doctor and have your injuries recorded. When you make a complaint (klacht / plainte) to the police, repeat the racist words exactly as they were said.
- Keep witnesses' contact details and any messages. You can report it to Unia free of charge on 0800 12 800 or online.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- The victim can also claim compensation for medical costs and other losses.
Legal basis:BW Boek 6, art. 6.5, 6.30
- Court / prison
- If there is no injury or only a minor one, level 2: 6 months – 3 years in prison. For serious injury, level 3 (3 – 5 years) or level 4 (5 – 10 years). If someone dies, level 5 (10 – 15 years).
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 199 + Boek I, art. 36Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36
What does this level mean? Criminal Code, level 5: 10 – 15 years in prison. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- It may 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
- The attacker may have to pay compensation to the victim
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 67
- For serious or repeated offences, your residence permit can be revoked and your citizenship application may be affected
Legal basis:Vreemdelingenwet 15.12.1980, art. 21, 23 §2 + WBN 28.6.1984, art. 15 §3
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?
A person attacked because of who they are also experiences the attack as a message to their whole community. The rule protects both the individual and the community.
Where can you go?
- Free first-line legal advice and pro deo lawyerA free or low-cost lawyer if your income is low
- Justice HouseInformation and support for victims, accused people and convicted people (Justitiehuis / Maison de justice)
- Emergency112 · Police 101
- 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
- 13 / 13 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 13 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Md. 199: discriminerende drijfveer ile şiddet
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 199 - Found in an official source
Normal şiddet: md. 194 seviye 1, 195 seviye 2, 196 seviye 3, 197 seviye 4 -> md. 199 bir seviye yukarı
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 194-197, 199 - Found in an official source
Md. 199: 1° geen/eerste graad seviye 2; 2° tweede graad seviye 3; 3° derde graad seviye 4; 4° dood seviye 5
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 199 1°-4° - Found in an official source
Nefret failin tek motivasyonu olmak zorunda değil; hâkim sözlerden/davranıştan çıkarabilir
Unia, Haatmisdrijf - Found in an official source
Unia 0800 12 800 ücretsiz, online bildirim
Unia, Haatmisdrijf - Found in an official source
112 acil, 101 polis (mevcut kartlarda kullanılıyor)
FOD Volksgezondheid – Noodcentrale 112 ('Wat is het verschil tussen 112 en 101?') - Found in an official source
Seviye 4 = 5–10 yıl, seviye 5 = 10–15 yıl
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 199 + Boek I, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Seviye 3 = 3–5 yıl
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Seviye 2 en az 6 ay
FOD Justitie – Hervorming Strafwetboek - Found in an official source
Sorumlu kişi zararın tamamını (ör. tedavi masrafı, gelir kaybı) karşılar
BW Boek 6, art. 6.5, 6.30 - Found in an official source
Mahkûmiyet Strafregister'e kaydedilir; kişi bir uittreksel alabilir ve bu belge iş başvurusunda istenebilir
Sv. art. 590, 595 - Found in an official source
Ceza mahkûmiyeti, mağdura iade ve tazminat yükümlülüğünü ortadan kaldırmaz; hâkim burgerlijke partij'e tazminat ödenmesine karar verebilir
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 67 - Found in an official source
Kamu düzeni nedeniyle oturum sona erdirilebilir; suçun ağırlığı dikkate alınır; vatandaşlıkta savcı 'kişiye özgü ciddi olgular' nedeniyle olumsuz görüş verebilir
Vreemdelingenwet 15.12.1980, art. 21, 23 §2 + WBN 28.6.1984, art. 15 §3
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?