Freedom of religion in Belgium

Last updated
Personification of "Freedom of Worship" on the Congress Column in Brussels CONGRESS COLUMN-BRUSSELS-Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram (13).jpg
Personification of "Freedom of Worship" on the Congress Column in Brussels

In 2022, the constitution of Belgium provides for freedom of religion. The law prohibits discrimination based on religious orientation; however federal law bans face-coverings being worn in public. [1]

Contents

In 2022, the country was scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom; this was due mainly to discrimination against Muslims and the rise of far-right parties. [2]

Religious demography

The Government of Belgium does not keep statistics listing religious affiliation but the population is predominantly Roman Catholic, according to a 2006 government report and a university study issued in 2000.

In 2018, the German GESIS-Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences carried out a survey of religious belief in the country with results showing that 57.1% of residents were Roman Catholic, 20.2% “nonbeliever/agnostic,” 9.1% atheist, 6.8% Muslim (mostly Sunni), 2.8% other non-Orthodox Christian, 2.3% Protestant, 0.6% Orthodox Christian, 0.3% Jewish, 0.3% Buddhist, and 0.5% “other.” A 2015 study by the Catholic University of Louvain estimated that the Muslim population are based in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia. [1]

In 2007 religion played a role in some life events in Belgium: 25.6% of couples opted for a marriage in the Church, 58.4% of funerals included religious services and 54.6% of the children born in the country were baptized. Only 8.5% of the population went to the church on Christmas in 2007. [3] In Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, religious events were a much smaller part of life; in 2007, only 7.2% opted for a marriage in the Church, 22.6% of funerals included religious services and 14.8 of children born in Brussels were baptized. [3]

In 2005, the country consisted of 42-43% non-believers. [4]

A 2005 report of the Université Libre de Bruxelles estimated that 15% of the Catholic population regularly attended religious services, and 10% of the Muslim population were "practicing Muslims."

Status of religious freedom

The constitution provides for freedom of worship. It states no person can be required to participate in any religious group’s ceremonies or to observe the group’s religious days of rest. It also bars the state from interfering in the appointment of religious clergy and obligates the state to pay the salaries and pensions of clergy in recognized houses of worship. [1]

The Government accords "recognized" status to Catholicism, Protestantism (including Evangelicals and Pentecostals), Judaism, Anglicanism (separately from other Protestant groups), Islam, and Orthodox (Greek and Russian). Representative bodies for these religious groups receive subsidies from government revenues. The Government also supports the freedom to participate in secular organizations. These secular humanist groups serve as a seventh recognized "religion," and their organizing body, the Central Council of Non-Religious Philosophical Communities of Belgium, receives funds and benefits similar to those of the other recognized religious groups. [5] Unrecognized groups can worship freely, but will not receive any government funding. [6]

Formal limitations

Belgium has prohibited the wearing of niqab and other face-covering garments in public, officially due to the state’s claim of the importance of “living together”. In two cases in 2017 the European Court of Human Rights recognized this policy, [7] whereas the United Nations Human Rights Committee in 2019 criticized Belgium for this policy as being against freedom of religion. [8]

Education

The constitution requires religious teaching in public schools to be neutral; there is no definition of 'neutral' in the constitution. Students in Flanders can opt out of these classes; outside of Flanders, these courses are mandatory. Francophone schools must legally offer a mandatory one-hour per week philosophy and citizenship course and a one-hour mandatory course on either philosophy and citizenship or one of the recognized religions. [1]

Anti-Semitism

Federal law prohibits public statements inciting religious hatred, including Holocaust denial; the maximum sentence for Holocaust denial is one year in prison. An antiracism law that prohibits discrimination based on nationality, race, skin color, ancestry, national origin, or ethnicity can legally be applied to cases of antisemitism. [1]

Societal abuses and discrimination

According to the Jewish Policy Research in the UK, Belgium had the lowest level of anti-Semetic incident across the 12 European countries they analysed. [1]

In 2021, the Unia agency reported 81 anti-Semitic incidents, a decrease from 2020; half of these were online. Unia also reported 243 cases of other religious discrimination or harassment in 2021, a decrease from 2020; most of these were against Muslims, although 4 were against Christians. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

Christianity is the largest religion in Belgium, with the Catholic Church representing the largest community, though it has experienced a significant decline since the 1950s. Belgium's policy separates the state from the churches, and freedom of religion of the citizens is guaranteed by the country's constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom of religion by country</span>

The status of religious freedom around the world varies from country to country. States can differ based on whether or not they guarantee equal treatment under law for followers of different religions, whether they establish a state religion, the extent to which religious organizations operating within the country are policed, and the extent to which religious law is used as a basis for the country's legal code.

The Constitution of Burundi provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. Government policy contributes to the generally free practice of religion. In a 2007 US Government study, there were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice.

The constitution of Cape Verde provides for freedom of religion, and the government has generally respected this right in practice. Government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion. There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice.

Freedom of religion in Comoros is addressed in the constitution which proclaims equality of rights and obligations for everyone.

The Constitution provides for the freedom to practice the rights of one's religion and faith in accordance with the customs that are observed in the kingdom, unless they violate public order or morality. The state religion is Islam. The Government prohibits conversion from Islam and proselytization of Muslims.

The Lebanese Constitution provides for freedom of religion and creeds and the exercise of all religious rites provided that the public order is not disturbed. The Constitution declares equality of rights and duties for all citizens without discrimination or preference but establishes a balance of power among the major religious groups. The government has generally respected these rights; however, the National Pact agreement in 1943 restricted the constitutional provision for apportioning political offices according to religious affiliation. There have been periodic reports of tension between religious groups, attributable to competition for political power, and citizens continue to struggle with the legacy of the civil war that was fought along sectarian lines. Despite sectarian tensions caused by the competition for political power, the Lebanese continue to coexist.

The Basic Law, in accordance with tradition, declares that Islam is the state religion and that Shari'a is the source of legislation. It also prohibits discrimination based on religion and provides for the freedom to practice religious rites as long as doing so does not disrupt public order. The government generally respected this right, but within defined parameters that placed limitations on the right in practice. While the government continued to protect the free practice of religion in general, it formalized previously unwritten prohibitions on religious gatherings in locations other than government-approved houses of worship, and on non-Islamic institutions issuing publications within their communities, without prior approval from the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs (MERA). There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice.

In Qatar, the Constitution, as well as certain laws, provide for freedom of association, public assembly, and worship in accordance with the requirements of public order and morality. Notwithstanding this, the law prohibits proselytizing by non-Muslims and places some restrictions on public worship. Islam is the state religion.

The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus provides for freedom of religion. The government of the Republic of Cyprus is the only internationally recognized government on the island, and administers two-thirds of the island.

The Constitution of Albania provides for freedom of religion, and the Government has generally respected this right in practice. There have been no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious beliefs or practice.

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion.

The Bulgarian constitution states that freedom of conscience and choice of religion are inviolable and prohibits religious discrimination; however, the constitution designates Eastern Orthodox Christianity as the "traditional" religion of the country.

Freedom of religion in Montenegro refers to the extent to which people in Montenegro are freely able to practice their religious beliefs, taking into account both government policies and societal attitudes toward religious groups. Montenegro's laws guarantee the freedom of religion and outlaw several forms of religious discrimination, as well as establishing that there is no state religion in Montenegro. The government provides some funding to religious groups.

Freedom of religion in North Macedonia refers to the extent to which people in North Macedonia are freely able to practice their religious beliefs, taking into account both government policies and societal attitudes toward religious groups.

The status of religious freedom in Africa varies from country to country. States can differ based on whether or not they guarantee equal treatment under law for followers of different religions, whether they establish a state religion, the extent to which religious organizations operating within the country are policed, and the extent to which religious law is used as a basis for the country's legal code.

The status of religious freedom in Asia varies from country to country. States can differ based on whether or not they guarantee equal treatment under law for followers of different religions, whether they establish a state religion, the extent to which religious organizations operating within the country are policed, and the extent to which religious law is used as a basis for the country's legal code.

The status of religious freedom in Europe varies from country to country. States can differ based on whether or not they guarantee equal treatment under law for followers of different religions, whether they establish a state religion, the extent to which religious organizations operating within the country are policed, and the extent to which religious law is used as a basis for the country's legal code.

The status of religious freedom in North America varies from country to country. States can differ based on whether or not they guarantee equal treatment under law for followers of different religions, whether they establish a state religion, the extent to which religious organizations operating within the country are policed, and the extent to which religious law is used as a basis for the country's legal code.

The status of religious freedom in South America varies from country to country. States can differ based on whether or not they guarantee equal treatment under law for followers of different religions, whether they establish a state religion, the extent to which religious organizations operating within the country are policed, and the extent to which religious law is used as a basis for the country's legal code.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 US State Dept 2022 report
  2. ↑ Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-28
  3. 1 2 "Religieuze praktijk in België 2007: Een statistische analyse" (PDF) (in Dutch). Catholic University Leuven. 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  4. ↑ Zuckerman, Phil (2005). "Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics" (PDF). TheChapmans.nl. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  5. ↑ About that funding, see: S. Wattier, Le financement public des cultes et des organisations philosophiques non confessionnelles. Analyse de constitutionnalité et de conventionnalité, Bruxelles, Bruylant, 2016
  6. ↑ Freedom Of Thought website, Belgium report dated November 4, 2020
  7. ↑ European Court of Human Rights Dakir v. Belgium (4619/12), ECtHR 11.7.2017, §§ 60-62; Belcacemi and Oussar v. Belgium (37798/13), ECtHR 11.7.2017, §§ 61-63
  8. ↑ United Nations Human Rights Committee Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Belgium (CCPR/C/BEL/CO/6), December 6, 2019, §§ 17-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.