Philippe Servaty

Philippe Servaty is a Belgian journalist who formerly worked for Brussels-based newspaper "Le Soir".fr icon [http://www.telquel-online.com/180/sujet1.shtml Scandale porno d’Agadir] , Karim Boukhari, "TelQuel" #180. Retrieved on 2007-02-02] While in Morocco from 2002–05, he engaged in sex with over 80 women, promising to take them to Belgium.en icon [http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/66 Avenging Muslims Seek to Kill Belgian Journalist] , Paul Belien, "The Brussels Journal", 2005-07-13. Retrieved on 2007-02-02] Before leaving for Belgium, he asked them for sexual photos as souvenirs, and photographed them in poses that could be seen as degrading.en icon [http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050613/2005061326.html 'Le Soir' paper 'extremely shocked' to be associated in ethical scandal in Morocco] , ArabicNews.com, 2005-06-13. Retrieved on 2007-02-02] After returning to Belgium, he published the photos on the internet under the pseudonym Belguel, including anti-Islamic captions such as, “there is no better drug than to ejaculate on the veiled face of a woman”.nl icon [http://194.78.177.168/CMArticles/ShowArticleHP.asp?articleID=44343&sectionID=546 De slachtoffers van Servaty] , Bart Schut, "Knack". Retrieved on 2007-02-02]

At least one of the women filed a complaint to the police in Morocco, after a CD-ROM of the pictures began circulating in marketplaces in Agadir. The police arrested her, as well as many of the other women pictured, as posing for pornographic photos is a crime in Morocco. [ Agadir scandal Belgian MPs urge King to pardon victims, Morocco Times, (Jul 15, 2005).] At least two of the women attempted suicide while in prison, and several have disappeared, either in hiding or murdered by their families in honor killings.nl icon [http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=GAFG3S8J&word=B%c3%a9n%c3%a9dicte+Vaes Ze zijn zo naïef, meneer] , Bénédicte Vaes, "De Standaard", 2005-07-02. Retrieved on 2007-02-02] Moroccan authorities asked Belgium to press charges against Servaty. Belgium declined, as the photos are not illegal under Belgian law. He may face charges for making anti-Islamic statements, though, a crime under Belgian and European Union laws. Additionally, Moroccan authorities have stated that he will be arrested if he returns to Morocco; he had previously been arrested there for possession of pornography. Due to the scandal, Servaty resigned from "Le Soir".

Families of the photographed women have placed a bounty on his head, and both he and his wife received death threats. Servaty was forced into hiding in fear for his life. Servarty said in an interview that he was a sex addict and apologized for his actions.

References