The three Belgian climate protesters who were previously sentenced to a two-month jail time for targeting Johannes Vermeer's famed piece "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is no longer getting punished after a Dutch appeals court ruled in favor of them last Monday, March 11, according to CNN.
Behind the Ruling in Favor of the Just Stop Oil Belgium Activists
The activists were part of the Just Stop Oil Belgium campaign group, two of whom can be seen in a video captured of the incident gluing parts of their bodies on the Vermeer painting as well as pouring tomato soup near it, with the third man serving as the cameraman.
The demonstration, which happened in October 2022 at The Hague's Mauritshuis Museum in the Netherlands, initially resulted in the protesters getting two-month jail sentences for causing destruction and damage to the piece, alongside exacting public violence.
In a statement shared by the museum just days after the incident, it said the 17th-century masterpiece "remained undamaged" and was swiftly returned "back to her familiar spot."
However, in contrast, the piece's 19th-century frame had been unfortunately damaged after the protest, according to the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service.
Before the recent ensuing trial, the convicted men had to stay in detention for a total of 23 days. Because of spending almost a month in pre-trial detention, the court has determined that a longer more definitive prison sentence would have been immoderate.
As per a court spokesperson, the ruling was made in consideration of others who would like to peacefully protest or exercise their democratic right to freely express their dissatisfaction in a non-violent manner.
Especially because punishing the protesters for essentially doing just that would have had a "chilling effect" on others, the court added.
