Belgian Muslims Urged to Cancel Mosque Prayers for Eid Al-Adha Amid COVID-19 Surge

In a statement, the EMB invited Muslims to pray at home as was the case for the Eid al-Fitr prayer.

Last May, the EMB had invited Belgian Muslims to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer at home, without a khotba (sermon) and in a small circle, with the prohibition of gatherings despite the recent expansion of the social bubble to four people.

The EMB also called on Belgian citizens of Muslim faith to stick to its official communications and not to "those of associations that do not comply with the official decisions emanating from the EMB in accordance with the recommendations of the authorities."

This decision comes following the publication of a statement by another Flemish Muslim association inviting Moroccan mosques in Flanders to close their doors to the public until August 31, 2020 due to cases of Coronavirus contamination that would have been detected among several citizens of Muslim faith.

The Executive of Muslims of Belgium (EMB) claims not to have adopted such a measure, nor has the Council of Theologians attached to it, contrary to certain rumors that have circulated. "We believe that this communication is unfortunate, as it encourages generalization and stigmatization of the Muslim community by presenting mosques as potential hotbeds of Coronavirus contamination, while drastic health measures have been imposed by the authorities and relayed by the EMB," specifies the Executive.