Molenbeek Council Vote Sparks Debate on Religious Symbols in Public Service

Catherine Moureaux, a member of the PS and mayor of Molenbeek, reacted to the accusations arising from the vote of this clause which authorizes according to as yet undefined criteria, the wearing of religious symbols in the municipal administration. Some have raised the fact that the municipality is constantly faced with the problem of wearing the veil, while in other municipalities the question is already settled and filed, reports La Capitale.

"It is false to say that this is a Molenbeek problem," defends Catherine Moureaux. She explains that the issue of wearing religious symbols is a difficulty that is encountered everywhere where there is diversity in the population. "It’s in Brussels but also in the big cities of Belgium. In other Flemish cities, there are also work regulations that have taken a strong position. I don’t want people to believe that it’s a Molenbeek problem, it’s not true," stresses the first official of Molenbeek.

She points out that if the question sometimes comes up, it’s because there is a difficulty that needs to be corrected. "It’s a problem because it’s an ethical issue that touches on principles dear to all democrats. It’s a debate that takes place in all political parties. I refuse to assume that it’s a Molenbeek problem. And I refuse to assume that it’s a problem of the Socialist Party." For Catherine Moureaux, the question of the neutrality of public services is an important issue that is better to settle than to let the gap widen until it becomes unmanageable, specifies the same source.