EU Court Upholds Ban on Shechitah in Belgium

By Hamodia Staff

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the bans on animal slaughter without stunning in Belgium do not impede freedom of religion nor constitute discrimination.

The decision, issued on Tuesday by the tribunal in Strasbourg, France, comes in response to a petition filed by Muslim groups challenging the bans implemented in 2019 in two out of three Belgian regions. This ruling stands as final, as the Strasbourg court holds the highest authority to review such bans.

Opposition to these bans comes from Jewish and Muslim communities in Belgium, who see them as unjust limitations on religious practices. The bans, which aim to address concerns about the cruelty of slaughter without stunning, have been met with resistance. Advocates of shechitah argue that when conducted properly, the method does not cause undue suffering to animals. Similarly, defenders of the Muslim variant, d’biha, make the same argument.

Following the publication of the ruling by the European Court, a poignant response was issued by the Chief Rabbi and President of the Conference of European Rabbis, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt:

“This is a dark day for Europe. The European Court of Human Rights has decided that the rights of animals are more important than human rights.

“The decision of the court in Strasbourg is disappointing but was not unexpected. The Conference of European Rabbis consistently opposed joining the lawsuit in the European Court. Our position was that the matter should have remained under the jurisdiction of the Belgian community and not brought to Strasbourg.

“We are determined to continue together with the Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe, fighting for religious freedoms and equality in Europe. This task has now become more challenging.”