The Flanders Region of Belgium has joined Wallonia in passing legislation banning religious slaughter.
Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt, President of The Conference of European Rabbis, the primary rabbinical alliance in Europe, blasted the decision, saying: “The news that The Flanders Region of Belgium has joined Wallonia in passing a legislation banning religious slaughter is a clear attack on religious practices and a worrying omen for the future of religious rites across Europe.”
“We cannot tolerate bans on religious practices. Leaders across Europe must protest against the ban and work to protect our religious freedoms,” he said.
The decision came after the Walloon Parliament in southern Belgium voted unanimously last month to ban the slaughter of unstunned animals, a requirement for both kosher and halal ritual slaughter.
Philippe Markiewicz, president of the Consistoire organization of Belgian Jewry that is responsible for providing religious services, had pleaded with Walloon region lawmakers not to “repeat the Nazis’ acts.” “The last assault on ritual slaughter was in October 1940 under the Nazi occupation because they knew how important it was for Jews,” he had said.