BRUSSELS (WJC) – World Jewish Congress (WJC) Executive Vice-President Mallam Stern expresses deep regret following the European Court of Human Rights’ decision to uphold the ban on ritual slaughter in Belgium’s Flanders and Wallonia regions. and stated as follows: It highlighted the negative impact this ruling has on the religious freedom of Jewish and Muslim communities across Europe.
Stern said: “The court’s imprudent decision to perpetuate discrimination against Jews and Muslims in Belgium is deplorable. This decision is a setback and clearly suppresses religious liberty and liberty, not an issue of animal welfare. We cannot stand by and watch religious persecution spread.”
Highlighting the far-reaching implications of this decision, Stern said: “The prohibition on religious genocide without prior stunning imposes an undue burden on our communities and violates the guarantees under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.” “It touches on the core of religious freedom,” he added. This comes at a time when anti-Semitism and hatred are on the rise and the protection of our fundamental freedoms becomes increasingly important. ”
The WJC further urges European governments to recognize the significance of this judgment and to enact legislation that upholds the fundamental right to religious freedom and the importance of ritual slaughter in the religious practices of Judaism and Islam in their respective countries. requested that the law be enacted. “It is imperative for governing bodies to prevent violations of religious communities’ rights to worship freely, rather than impose restrictions that further marginalize them,” Stern said.
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Preamble provided by the World Jewish Congress