Women served “to satisfy men sexually and perform household chores”, he said, but “don’t want to open their legs anymore”. 

Women could be compared to “animals” with “udders”, the surgeon told his postgraduate audience.

Specific women, including students in the auditorium, a TV broadcaster, and green activist Greta Thunberg, were targeted with insults. 

Women were “worthless” in the role of doctors, judges, teachers, scientists, journalists, and business executives, Hoeyberghs said.

‘Stupid and outrageous’

Hoeyberghs, who qualified as a cosmetic surgeon in the UK and is a frequent TV commentator in Belgium, was invited to speak by the university.

The speech, which was filmed by students and broadcast live on Facebook, resulted in more than 1,500 complaints.

In court, Hoeyberghs’ lawyer said none of those personally targeted had sued for defamation. 

The accusations, the surgeon  claimed, were evidence of a “well-oiled international machine of communist signature and with Western state subversion as the ultimate goal”.

Judges dismissed his arguments, ruling that Hoeyberghs’ “criminal behaviour threatens a peaceful society where there is room for all people, regardless of their gender. 

“It creates a hostile atmosphere in society and contributes to even more strife, discord, conflict and violence”.

But Bart De Wever, mayor of Antwerp and leader of the nationalist New Flemish Alliance Party, said: “Hoeyberghs’ statements were stupid and outrageous. But reprehensible is different from punishable. Freedom cannot be protected by restricting it”.

Hoeyberghs has said he will appeal.