Islam in Belgium

Islam in Belgium is relatively new, and is mostly practised in the Belgian immigrant communities (mostly the Moroccan Chechen and Turkish communities). It is the largest minority religion in Belgium. It is estimated that between 3 to 4% of the Belgian population is Muslim (350 000 to 380 000 people). The majority of Belgian Muslims live in the major cities, such as Antwerp, Brussels and CharleroiVerviers.

In 1974 Islam was recognized as a one of the subsidized religions in Belgium and the Muslim Executive of Belgium was founded in 1996. In 2006, the government gave $7.7 million (6.1 million euros) to Islamic groups.

According to a 2005 Free University of Brussels study, about 10% of the Muslim population are "practicing Muslims."

In June 2005 the Antwerp Appellate Court ruled that it was outside the jurisdiction of the state to determine whether Islam requires women to wear a headscarf and that girls in public schools have the right to do so. However, the school board also has the authority to restrict that right for organizational reasons, or for the good functioning of the school, though it must justify any such restrictions.

At the end of 2005, approximately twenty municipalities had issued a ban on walking the streets completely veiled. In a few cases women were fined $190 (150 euros) for ignoring the ban. Under a 1993 executive order, persons in the streets must be identifiable, based on laws dating back to the Middle Ages. A veil which does not completely cover the body is however allowed.

According to a 2006 opinion poll 61% of the Belgian population think tensions between muslims and other communities will increase in the future.

Notable Belgian Muslims:

• Dyab Abou Jahjah
• Saïd El Khadraoui
• Nasreddin Lebatelier

See also

• Religion in Belgium

References

• US State Department, International Religious Freedom Report 2006, Belgium [2]