Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD), Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs, is pulling out all the stops to curb the rise of the Executive of Muslims of Belgium (EMB).
The Executive of Muslims of Belgium (EMB) regularly causes controversies since its creation. Recently again, the president of this association announced that he is renouncing state subsidies, denouncing "political interference".
In Belgium, the Constitutional Court handed down a ruling on Thursday, September 30 that confirms the ban on slaughter without prior stunning. A decision that is not to the liking of the Office of the Executive of Muslims of Belgium (EMB) and the Council for the Coordination of Islamic Institutions of Belgium, who are considering an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The Executive of Muslims of Belgium (EMB), says it is "dismayed" in the face of accusations of misappropriation targeting it, firmly contesting "all the allegations reported in the press".
The Muslim community in Belgium obtains from the authorities the easing of restrictive measures in the context of the celebration of the Eid al-Fitr festival. The Belgian government has just approved the celebration of worship outdoors from May 8, with a maximum of 50 people.
The Executive of Muslims of Belgium (EMB) has announced that fasting does not prevent vaccination against Covid-19. It therefore invites them to go to the centers to contribute to the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
Muslims in Belgium will be informed on Sunday about the start date of the month of Ramadan. The Council of Theologians, attached to the Executive of Muslims of Belgium (EMB) will make the announcement via videoconference at 5:30 p.m. (local time).
The Executive of Muslims of Belgium (EMB) informs the faithful of the slight easing in the practice of worship, particularly funerals in these times of Covid-19. The decision was made last Friday in the Concertation Committee by the federal government and the governments of the federated entities.
The Executive of Muslims of Belgium is upset with the local press. The institution also refutes the "unfounded accusations" of the Minister of Justice on its evaluation report, relayed by the press. The latter would have made "completely abusive and totally unacceptable" political comments.
The Executive of Muslims of Belgium (EMB), the Association for the Management of the Grand Mosque of Brussels and the Coordination Council of Islamic Institutions of Belgium contest the allegations of the presence of Moroccan spies at the Grand Mosque of the Cinquantenaire.
As of September 1st, mosques in Belgium will be able to welcome up to 200 worshippers. This decision by the National Security Council is part of the easing of measures enacted by the government to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
In Belgium, the Muslim community is preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2, 2020. But this year again, it will have to face the questioning of ritual slaughter, already banned in Flanders and Wallonia, by the Belgian authorities.