Highest European court rules AGAINST religious freedom

Dear friends,

This morning, Belgium's attack on the sacred practice of shechita (ritual slaughter) was upheld by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The Lawfare Project has been working with the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organizations in Belgium to challenge discriminatory laws in two Belgian regions that banned the ritual slaughter required to produce kosher and halal meat.

We are appalled and disappointed by the Court's decision to allow EU member states to persecute religious minorities by banning these sacred traditions. This is a direct violation of civil rights and will bar millions of Jews and Muslims from exercising religious freedom. The CJEU's ruling is in direct opposition to the opinion of its own Advocate General, issued in September, which clearly articulated the importance of preserving the rights of Jews and Muslims to practice our centuries-old traditions.

This shameful ruling is not representative of European democracy. No democracy can remain as such when it denies its citizens the freedom to practice their religion. The defense of religious freedom is a core pillar of The Lawfare Project's work, and the fight against this outrageous attack on civil rights is not over. From here, the case will be remanded to the Belgian court. It is our hope that the Belgian court will rule on the right side of justice and protect the religious freedom of millions. Should the outcome be upheld, however, we will then have the opportunity to escalate the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The Lawfare Project will not sit idly and allow this injustice to stand. We will put our all into protecting the sacred practice of shechita.

Without your support, we wouldn't be able to fight to uphold the civil rights of millions, and for this, we are deeply grateful.

Sincerely,

Brooke Goldstein
Executive Director, The Lawfare Project