The European Court of Human Rights has issued a disastrous landmark ruling stating that Belgium’s bans on shechita without prior stunning do not violate religious freedoms or constitute discrimination. The decision was made on Tuesday following a challenge by Muslim groups to the 2019 regulations implemented in two of Belgium’s three regions. As the court represents the highest authority capable of reviewing such bans, its verdict is definitive.
Both Jewish and Muslim communities in Belgium have voiced strong opposition to these regulations, considering them a significant breach of religious rights. The argument against the bans centers on the belief that the method of slaughter without stunning, as practiced in Jewish shechita and Muslim d’biha, is not inherently cruel to animals when executed properly.
Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the chairman of the European Jewish Association based in Brussels, criticized the court’s decision, saying, “The implied determination of the distorted verdict is that the rights of these citizens to freedom of religion and worship are even less than that of animals,” warning that the decision would cause “serious damage to the fabric of life throughout the continent.”
Echoing these sentiments, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, described the ruling as “a black day for Europe.” He affirmed the determination of Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe to continue advocating for religious freedoms and equality, although he acknowledged that the court’s decision complicates these efforts.
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7 Responses
Nuisance, rather than a disaster provided that there is no attempt to ban the import of kosher meat from elsewhere in the EU (remember the EU requires free trade and free movement of workers within the EU). As long as there other countries nearby with kosher slaughter, it isn’t a crisis, though it may result it a long commute or a need to relocate for those employed in the kosher meat industry in Belgium.
Given current hostilities between us and the Muslims, we have a problem effectively protesting policies that are both anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim.
BH for Brexit (here in UK)
@akuperma: firstly, various countries permit shechita for use in their countries but prohibit the export.
2ndly, not all kashrus authorities are happy to send shochtim and mashgichim abroad for various reasons besides the cost.
finally and worst of all: this is just the beginning; the voices to ban shechita throughout the continent are getting louder and louder.
@etzhar is right: חבור רשעים רע לעולם
There has been a precedent in Europe. Germany was one of the first countries, in the 19th century, to push an anti animal cruelty agenda in order to undermine shechita. And see where there misguided sense of compassion led them – to the greatest barbarity in the 20 th century!
DavidtheKanoi : Belgium is rather small. It is in commuting distance from both Netherlands and France. And under EU law, there is tariff-free movement of goods between countries, and workers in any EU country can work in any other (similar to how Americans from one state can work in, and buy goods, from any other state).
It does suggest strong bias in Belgium, and most Jews there should consider migration (and again if you live anywhere in the EU, you can move anywhere else in the EU).
interesting to watch one at a time these christian countries lock you in…….forget them….come home or order from Israel and we will deliver till you wake up and return to Israel and give us the pull we need…..other than that those living outside of Israel stop complaining…we can’t help you, you can help yourself and Israel, COME HOME…..NOW
Belgium banning it is no big deal; it’s the principle of the thing, not the practical impact. But if France were to ban it, that would truly be a disaster.