The Belgian ban on slaughter without stunning remains in place after a European court ruling

The European Court in Strasbourg ruled on Tuesday that the Belgian ban on slaughter without stunning does not conflict with the European Convention on Human Rights. Muslim and Jewish organizations had taken the Flemish and Walloon governments to court over the slaughter ban they implemented in 2019. The organizations believe that the ban will no longer allow Muslims and Jews to purchase meat that meets religious slaughter requirements. This violates their religious freedom, the complaint said.

After religious interest groups failed to win their case before the Belgian Constitutional Court, the European Court of Human Rights was the last option to protect traditional slaughter methods. However, the Court considers that protecting animal welfare is part of “public morality.”

According to Flemish Animal Welfare Minister Ben Wiets, the ruling means not only this in Belgium, but that “the door is open to ban slaughter without stunning” across Europe. Muslim and Jewish organizations can appeal first. If they are not granted the appeal or lose the appeal, Tuesday's ruling will apply to all 47 member states of the Council of Europe. In the Netherlands, the Party for Animals is trying to implement such a ban.

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