K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Belgian court questions ban on Jewish ritual slaughter

April 4, 2019 - from the Jerusalem Post:

"Belgium’s Constitutional Court on Thursday questioned the legality of the ban on religious slaughter passed in 2017 by the parliaments of Flanders and Wallonia."

"Practically speaking, the court's decision is an interim one, which shows it is seriously considering the legal challenge, but has not reached a final decision - a result which disappointed Jewish groups who had hoped to already erase the law from the record books. "

"Following the passing of the law, the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organizations in Belgium (CCOJB) filed a lawsuit against the ban with support from The Lawfare Project, a legal think tank and litigation fund that files legal cases against anti-Jewish discrimination around the world."

"The Belgian court decided that it needs to check whether the bans on religious slaughter are compatible with European law."

"According to those suing to strike the law, European legislation allows for religious slaughter as an exception to the rule of prior stunning, provided that religious slaughter is operated in an approved slaughterhouse."

"CCOJB and The Lawfare Project 'maintain that while the ban was implemented with the stated purpose of animal welfare, that argument is flawed because animal welfare has always been central to the laws of kosher practice.'"