Several Islamic institutions that are signatories and members of the Coordination Council of Islamic Institutions in Belgium (CIB) are to launch several petitions for annulment of the education programme on relational, affective and sexual life (EVRAS) with the Constitutional Court, they announced in a press release on Monday.
The religious groups believe that several of the provisions that led to the adoption of the EVRAS guide in French-speaking education in Belgium are unconstitutional.
Seven associations, including the Diyanet of Belgium and the Islamic Federation of Belgium, will file appeals against the controversial sexual education. These institutions had already made their opposition known regarding the adoption of the decree ratifying the EVRAS programme by the French Community Government.
"Several provisions of this decree are highly questionable," said Kursat Bilge, lawyer for the CIB religious institutions. However, the lawyer did not wish to give details of the grounds and arguments for the appeal before it is lodged. Details about the groups opposition to the educational policy will be made known sometime in October.
In its press release, the Coordination Council of Islamic Institutions in Belgium also states that it "condemns the acts of violence and vandalism against schools that followed the adoption of the decree." Several schools in the Charleroi region were affected by arson attacks in September. Graffiti protesting EVRAS was found at several of the crime scenes.
The CIB also stated that it "strongly affirms its commitment to a democratic society with respect for the rule of law and reiterates its attachment to the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution."
