Ritual Slaughter Of Animals Officially Banned In Belgium

Kosher cow diagram.

By Cnaan Liphshiz January 1, 2019

(JTA) — A ban in Belgium on the Jewish and Muslim methods of ritual slaughter of animals will go into effect on New Year’s.

The Flemish Region, whose capital is Antwerp, passed the measure in July 2017 over vociferous objections by faith community leaders. It becomes effective on Jan. 1.

A similar ban in the Walloon Region, another of the three parts that make up the federal kingdom of Belgium, is set to become effective in September.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO