Belgian court upholds ban on religious slaughter

• Published date: 02 October 2021
• Author: JEREMY SHARON
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

In its review of the European Court of Justice's decision from December 2002, the Constitutional Court stressed in its ruling on Thursday that freedom of thought, conscience and religion was one of the foundations of a democratic society.

It also recognized that the general ban on slaughter without stunning entailed a restriction on the freedom of religion of Jews and Muslims who use such methods and whose religious laws prohibit the consumption of meat of stunned animals.

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The ban on slaughter without stunning, however, "responds to a pressing social need and is proportionate to the legitimate objective pursued of promoting animal welfare," the Belgian court said.

"Furthermore, the possibility of reversible stunning during ritual slaughter cannot be interpreted as prescribing how a religious rite is to be performed," it argued.

The Conference of European Rabbis lamented the decision, but said the ruling was expected.

"Whilst we are disappointed with today's judgment, we are certainly not surprised as it upholds the status quo in Belgium," said Conference of European Rabbis president Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt.

"This ruling confirms the ban on religious slaughter and brings Belgium into line with those few other countries whose bans on shechita [kosher slaughter] date from the Nazi era," said the rabbi.

"Removing the Jewish community's ability to be self-sufficient sends a clear message about how Jews are regarded within Belgium and how the...