Belgian court orders state to cut Ghent prison overcrowding or face fines

A Belgian civil court has ordered the state to reduce overcrowding at Ghent prison to 110% of capacity within six months, with fines of €500 per detainee per day (capped at €45 million) for non-compliance. The ruling follows a legal action by the Flemish Bar Association, highlighting systemic prison overcrowding. This is a judicial intervention forcing executive action on a chronic issue, with potential fiscal and political implications.