Flemish government grants recognition to 26 faith communities, rejects 32 applications
Hilde Crevits (CD&V), the Flemish minister for Internal Affairs, has approved 26 of the 58 pending applications for official recognition of local faith communities. The remaining 32 applications were rejected for failing to meet the legal requirements.
Crevits made her decisions following consultations with local authorities, provincial administrations, the Federal minister of Justice and the Flemish Information and Screening Service (ISD).
Out of the 64 applications received, six are still pending due to incomplete security assessments or further questions from the minister, such as concerns about possible 'Russian influence' in a Russian Orthodox church in Mechelen. The approved communities include 17 Islamic, 4 Orthodox and 5 Protestant congregations.
Strict conditions
The recognition framework stems from a 2021 decree, which was introduced following a freeze that had been in place since 2017 under the leadership of former N-VA minister Liesbeth Homans. The law stipulates strict conditions, including a ban on foreign interference and funding. Although parts of the decree were annulled by the Constitutional Court in 2023, a revised version was adopted in 2024.
Recognition enables communities to apply for state-funded salaries for their religious leaders through the federal Ministry of Justice. However, over half of the applicants — 32 in total — received a negative recommendation from the screening body. Rejections were based on issues such as security risks, foreign control, lack of independence, insufficient financial transparency, or failure to secure long-term use rights for their place of worship.
I have always preferred recognised communities to 'garage congregations'
Faith communities that were denied recognition may address the identified shortcomings and reapply, although this process takes four years. Crevits acknowledged that non-recognition could jeopardise the viability of certain mosques. “I have always preferred recognised communities to 'garage congregations', but the criteria were approved by Parliament. My role is to apply them based on the available evidence,' she stated.
Currently, over 1,500 faith communities in Flanders enjoy official recognition. However, even recognised groups remain subject to ongoing scrutiny by the ISD and may lose their recognition if serious issues arise.
#FlandersNewsService | Shiites mosque in Anderlecht © BELGA PHOTO HERWIG VERGULT
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