The incident sparked widespread outrage, with EU leaders including Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Orbán condemning the police intervention.
Organizers of the conference challenged the mayor’s decision in court to keep the show on the road and the Council of State delivered a late night ruling on Tuesday, striking down the mayor’s order.
The court ruled that in case of risks of disruption of public order, authorities must take measures “to curb demonstrations on public roads rather than banning a private meeting” and that the government “must at least make an effort to protect those who wish to exercise their constitutional right of assembly.”
Because there was an “average” threat to participants, there was no need for “disproportionate efforts from the police services,” the court said.
Emir Kir, the mayor of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode where the Claridge is situated, defended his decision to move to shut down the conference.
“Being a mayor means being a guarantor of public safety,” he said on social media. “My lack of sympathy for those who preach hatred is assumed but it is the maintenance of public order which motivated the ban.”