Belgian Muslim Council Sues Justice Minister Over Representation Dispute

In September 2022, by Royal Decree, the Minister unilaterally withdrew the recognition of the EMB, accusing the latter of no longer representing the Muslim communities. This decision deprived the EMB of all funding and left it unable to carry out its missions.

Despite the planned holding of elections in December 2022 to remedy the situation, the cancellation of this election has plunged the EMB Bureau into a period of uncertainty and contestation, the statement said.

On March 2, the Bureau sent a formal notice letter to the Minister, proposing a meeting to jointly develop a roadmap to ensure effective representation of the Muslim faith. Unfortunately, this request remained unanswered, leaving the Bureau uncertain about its role and recognition.

The situation further deteriorated when the Bureau members learned that a meeting on the representation of the various religious denominations in Belgium had been organized by the Minister on March 3, 2023. Yet no invitation was sent to the representatives of the Muslim faith, thus excluding the EMB from its own missions and denying its legitimacy, explains the EMB.

In order to put an end to these "arbitrary interferences" and to guarantee respect for freedom of worship, the EMB Bureau, accompanied by the ASBL Collège de l’EMB, has decided to take the matter to court.