No new mosques in Flanders for five years, says Homans

The Flemish government will not accredit any new mosques in the region for the next five years in Flanders, Belgium, according to home affairs minister Liesbeth Homans.

The Flemish government will not accredit any new mosques in the region for the next five years in Flanders, Belgium, according to home affairs minister Liesbeth Homans.

Homans (photo) had commissioned a study from the university of Leuven, which she now says justifies a probation period of five years for any new house of prayer seeking accreditation as a mosque or other official church. Accredited churches of any of the main religions receive government subsidy.

But the conditions currently applied for accreditation to be granted are, Homans says, outdated. The new regime would apply tighter control on matters such as the gifts received from overseas, which would be banned. Some conditions appear specifically targetted at mosques, such as an investigation of the influence of the Turkish government on the activities of a Belgian mosque. 

All forms of preacher, priest or imam must undergo an integration procedure, ad be installed by the official representative organisation of the religion – in the case of an imam, by the Muslim Executive.

With only three months left until the regional elections in May, Homans’ proposal has little chance of being approved by the Flemish government and parliament. However her party N-VA is sure to form part of the new government post-election, when the proposal can be expected to resurface.