Keypoints:
- Lydia Ngoi abused over race and gender
- Socialist Party demands stronger safeguards
- Belgium urged to tackle digital hate
BELGUIM’S first Black woman MP, Lydia Mutyebele Ngoi, has become the target of a disturbing wave of online abuse, prompting strong condemnation from her Socialist Party colleagues and renewed calls for accountability on social media platforms.
Ngoi, who was elected to parliament in 2024, has received a barrage of racist, sexist, and fatphobic attacks, with critics targeting her Congolese heritage, gender and physical appearance. The lawmaker, aged 46, has spoken out about the daily threats and harassment she endures online.
‘I’m attacked for being Black, a woman, and foreign’
In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Ngoi said: ‘Every day I receive threats, insults, cyberbullying. Because I’m a woman. Because I’m Black. Because I’m of foreign origin.’
Born in Lubumbashi in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo, Ngoi moved to Belgium with her parents when she was six years old. Since her election, she has championed social justice and equality causes. However, her presence in the federal parliament has also exposed her to virulent online hate.
Socialist Party rallies behind Ngoi
The Belgian Socialist Party released a powerful video on social media showing some of the offensive and hateful comments that have been directed at Ngoi. In the video, the party issued a clear message: ‘STOP harassment, STOP sexism, STOP racism, STOP fatphobia. And STOP impunity on social media.’
Deputy Prime Minister and Socialist MP Pierre-Yves Dermagne reinforced the party’s stance: ‘We socialists will never accept any form of cyber-bullying, racism, sexism, or fatphobia. These actions must be condemned and action must be taken against them.’
Rising concern over digital abuse in politics
The attacks on Ngoi underscore a broader concern across Europe about the rise of online harassment targeting women, people of colour, and political minorities. Activists and politicians alike are calling for stricter enforcement of digital safety standards, especially as social platforms face criticism for allowing abuse to flourish unchecked.
Ngoi’s case has sparked widespread solidarity, with many in Belgium’s political class demanding legislative reform to protect public figures—and ordinary citizens—from hate speech and digital violence.
A call for zero tolerance
The abuse directed at Lydia Mutyebele Ngoi highlights a growing intolerance in online discourse and the urgent need for robust action. Her party’s firm response signals a political will to push back against hate and ensure that those who speak up for justice and equality can do so without fear.
As Belgium grapples with how to regulate harmful content on digital platforms, Ngoi’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the work still needed to make public life safer and more inclusive for all.
