In the wake of the controversial decision in Switzerland to ban future minaret construction, this report examines the question in Belgium, noting that there are 328 mosques in the country, and approximately 20 minarets, which are mostly located in Flanders, in Limbourg in particular. Generally speaking, there has been little controversy with their presence.
Dutch-language public schools in Belgium will ban the wearing of hijab in classes. The ban will affect 700 schools in the northern region of Flanders, including some in Brussels. School officials argue that the ban was taken to guarantee equal treatment of all pupils within the school grounds. Most schools in Flanders are Catholic and…
About 250 protesters participated in an anti-mosque protest organized by Vlaams Belang in Sint-Janswijk. The right wing political party protested against the recognition of the Attakwa mosque in the neighborhood. While the protest was mostly without incident, one person was arrested after trying to throw a jar of white paint on Vlaams Belang leader Filip…
There are currently seven recognized mosques and 17 mosques in the running for recognition in Flanders, according to a response given by Marino Keulen, Flemish Minster for Home Affairs, Urban Policy, Housing, and Civic Integration. Officially recognized mosques can be financed by the provinces, have a right to Flemish subsidies for renovations, and a salary…
According to a study by the ISPO (Institute for Social and Political Opinion Research), close to half of Flemish voters have a negative image of Islam and Muslims. 46 percent believe that Islam has nothing to contribute to European Culture, and 47 percent think that Islamic values are a threat to Europe, while 37 percent…
