Belgian Lawmaker Criticizes EU for Selective Condemnations of Human Rights Abuses

Belgian lawmaker Marc Botenga has launched a scathing attack on the European Union's human rights record, accusing the bloc of applying a deeply selective standard when condemning abuses around the world and turning a blind eye when the perpetrators are its own strategic allies.

Speaking before the European Parliament, Botenga, a member of the Belgian Workers' Party, argued that the EU's moral authority on human rights has been fundamentally undermined by its refusal to hold Israel and the United States to the same standards it applies to other nations. He accused European institutions of complicity in ongoing atrocities, declaring that Europe is "not a force for good but a partner in crime."

The lawmaker pointed to the EU's response to the war on Gaza as a case in point, noting that while Brussels has been swift to impose sanctions and issue condemnations against governments it considers adversaries, it has failed to take meaningful action against Israel despite mounting evidence of widespread violations of international humanitarian law in the besieged Palestinian territory. He questioned how the EU could credibly champion human rights while continuing arms exports and diplomatic support to governments engaged in what international legal bodies have characterized as potential war crimes.

Botenga's remarks reflect a growing frustration among a segment of European lawmakers and civil society organizations who argue that the bloc's foreign policy is driven more by geopolitical calculations than by the universal principles it claims to uphold. Critics have long pointed to what they describe as a double standard, where human rights violations by Western-aligned governments receive markedly softer treatment than those committed by states outside the transatlantic alliance.

The intervention comes at a time when the EU faces increasing scrutiny over its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Several member states have seen large-scale public demonstrations demanding an end to European complicity in the Gaza war, and a number of national parliaments have debated motions calling for arms embargoes and sanctions against Israel.

From a Gulf perspective, the Belgian lawmaker's criticism echoes positions long held by Qatar and other regional states that have called for consistent and principled application of international law. Doha has repeatedly urged the international community to move beyond rhetorical condemnations and take concrete steps to protect Palestinian civilians and hold violators accountable, regardless of their political affiliations.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has been among the most vocal leaders calling for an end to double standards in international affairs, arguing that selective justice erodes the credibility of the global rules-based order. Doha has backed its diplomatic stance with substantial humanitarian aid to Gaza and active mediation efforts aimed at securing ceasefires and hostage releases.

The European Parliament has yet to formally respond to Botenga's remarks, though the debate is expected to intensify as pressure mounts on EU leaders to reconcile their stated values with their foreign policy decisions.