The European Human Rights Court upholds the ban on ritual animal slaughter in Belgium

Muslims and Jews file a petition

Paris (France) – In Belgium, State Governments have banned the killing of animals for religious rituals. The top rights Court in Europe has ruled that bans of ritual slaughter in parts of Belgium can stand, ending the hopes of Jewish advocates who had said the bans were an unfair infringement on Jewish practice.

The Governments of Flanders and Wallonia in Belgium banned the slaughter of animals for religious purposes. Several Islamic and Jewish representatives, as well as NGOs, filed a petition in the Belgian Supreme Court against this. The Court ruled that the ban imposed by the Government was correct. The petitioners approached the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France; but even there also they could not succeed.

The petitioners argued before the Court that the Government’s ban on religious killing of animals is a violation of our right to freedom of religion. A seven-judge bench of the European Court unanimously rejected this argument and upheld the Government order. Interestingly, one of these judges is a Muslim judge from Turkiye.

Welfare of animals and respect for freedom of religion considered – Court

The Court observed that the protection of public morality is not limited to human dignity but extends to the welfare of animals. The Court of Justice which oversees European Union law held that the ban did not violate the rights of Jews and Muslims. EU regulations require that animals be “rendered insensible to pain before slaughter,” but member states can make exceptions for religious rituals.

Traditional killing of animals can be banned in Europe

After the Court’s decision, Muslim activist Mehmet Usten said, “This decision is very disappointing and against religious freedom.” On the other hand, the Minister of Animal Welfare of the state of Flanders, Ben Weitz, said, “This decision of the European Court bans the unnatural killing of animals not only in Belgium but in the whole of Europe. The doors are open.”