The European Court of Justice has approved a ban on kosher killings in Belgium

The European Court of Justice upheld a ban on kosher and hallal killings in Belgium, in a decision released on Thursday. The court rejected arguments by Jewish and Muslim groups that Belgium is violating their religious rights by requiring them to keep animals in the process of being slaughtered for meat, something that is contrary to their religious principles. The ruling sets a precedent that could trigger a wave of laws across the European Union against sectarianism, the killing of Jewish rituals. European rules prohibit premeditated killing, but make an exception for divine killing. At the same time, these rules state that countries can set their own laws to reduce animal suffering. The court ruled that the laws requiring animals to strike must “strike a fair balance between the importance attached to animal welfare and freedom. Jewish and Muslim believers express their faith.” The reason given by the court for balancing the law is that it allows “incredible turning.” The court also said that the law restricts a particular aspect of the ritual act of killing, not the act of killing itself, and therefore does not count as a prohibition of religious practice. However, prime Jewish and Muslim authorities do not allow any kind of surprise before disposing of animals for meat, until the court has ruled that banning meat production for these communities a fair balance between animal rights and human rights and Muslims.

“That intervention [in ritual slaughter] meets a goal of common interest recognized by the European Union, which is to promote animal welfare, “the court said. The court rejected the argument that hunting and killing of animals at” cultural events or sport ”is still permitted by law, however the animals will not be intimidated before they are killed.” Cultural and sporting events are the result of the majority of non-essential meat production. economic. As a result, such incidents cannot be reasonably understood as a food production activity, which justifies that they will be treated differently from being killed, “the ruling said. court finds unusual step of ruling against European advocate.Advocate-General Gerard Hogan In September states that EU member states have a duty to “respect the deep religious beliefs of followers of the religions Muslims and Jews by allowing the ritual slaughter of animals, “and that the process of slaughter must be extraordinary” must damage the meaning of the religion’s promise “the EU provides.
DUTCH-speaking regions of Flanders and Wallonia regions of Belgium agreed laws in 2017 prohibiting premeditated killings, even in the context of religious rituals, such as kosher shechita and Muslim killing. The Belgian Constitutional Court took the lawsuit, filed by the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organizations in Belgium, to the Court of Justice of the European Union last year to see if the laws are against EU rules. Committee President Yohan Benizri, who is also vice-president of the European Jewish Congress, said: “Democracy cannot exist when it goes Citizens are denied basic human and civil rights. We intend to take all legal steps to rectify this. Brooke Goldstein, executive director of the law project, which helped Benizri with the legal challenge, warned that “the religious freedom of millions of Europeans is being jeopardized by this disgraceful rule. . “Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the ruling” sends a harsh message to all European claims. In addition to the fact that the decision undermines the freedom of worship and religion in Europe, which is a key value of the EU, it reveals to Jewish communities that they are not wanted in Europe. The Foreign Ministry called for a way to change the decision. and allow Jewish Europeans to continue to adhere to their religion. “Any other decision runs counter to the value of religious freedom supported by EU citizens,” a ministry said. Israeli Ambassador to Belgium Emmanuel Nahshon said the ruling “is a disastrous decision, a blow to Jewish life in Europe. The suffering and diversity of words seem to be empty in the eyes of some Europeans.” Israeli Ambassador to Belgium Emmanuel Nahshon said the ruling was a disastrous decision, a blow to Jewish life in Europe. Apparently, suffering and the diversity of words is empty in the eyes of some Europeans. Russian President Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the European Rabbis Conference, said Thursday’s decision “flies against rec ent statements from the European Institutions that Jewish life is to be financed and respect it. “The Court has the right to rule that member states may or may not derogate from the law… only by attempting to define a sect, our religious practice, being unusual, “Goldschmidt said. “The decision of the European Court of Justice to ban non-stun killings in the regions of Flanders and Wallonia in Belgium will be felt by Jewish communities across the continent,” he said. The ban has already had a devastating effect on Belgium. A Jewish community, causing a shortage of supply during the pandemic – and we are all acutely aware of the precedent set, which challenges our right to exercise our faith. ” Goldschmidt said historically, a ban on religious killing has been an attempt to control a civilian population. , and can be traced back to the 1800s, when Switzerland tried to stop the escape of pogroms from entering their country, as well as Nazi Germany. In 2012, he said, Dutch politicians tried to stop ritual killing to stop the spread of Islam. ” European leaders tell us that they want Jewish communities to live and prosper in Europe, but they do not provide any protection for our way of life, “the rabbi said.” Europe needs to think about what kind of continent it wants to be. If values ​​such as religious freedom and true diversity are essential, the current legal system does not reflect that and needs to be re-examined without delay. ”