A court in Belgium just fined the Jehovah’s Witnesses €12,000 (about $14,255 USD) — and possibly more — for inciting hate against those who have walked away from the religion.

It’s effectively a punishment for blacklisting former members of the cult.

For those unaware, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have a practice called Disfellowshipping where ex-JWs are shunned by their families and friends for life — because that distance is the only thing believers can hold over the heads of the formerly faithful. (Imagine getting married or having a child — all without your living parents by your side — and you understand just how devastating this absence can be.)

In 2015, however, Patrick Haeck, a former JW, sued the organization for slander and defamation, claiming they violated Belgium’s anti-discrimination laws. It’s not just about religious beliefs; it’s that the faith teaches people there’s something inherently problematic about those former members.