EU antisemitism chief warns Belgian circumcision ban fuels discrimination: Denmark proposes Islamic call to prayer ban

The European Union’s top antisemitism official has warned that a proposed ban on religious circumcision in Belgium would fuel antisemitism and violate fundamental rights, as Jewish and Muslim communities face growing legal threats across Europe. EU Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism Katharina von Schnurbein issued the warning on Friday, 26 June 2026, amid a surge of prosecutions targeting religious practices in multiple EU states.

Von Schnurbein’s statement follows a series of legal actions in Belgium, where prosecutors have pursued cases against Jewish and Muslim families for performing religious circumcision on male infants. Jewish leaders and medical experts condemned the prosecutions as an assault on religious freedom, while von Schnurbein framed the issue as a broader threat to Europe’s Jewish communities. “Bans on circumcision are not just an attack on Jewish life—they are a gateway to further discrimination,” she said, echoing concerns raised by the European Jewish Congress and the Conference of European Rabbis.

The developments in Belgium coincide with a separate controversy in Denmark, where the immigration minister has proposed banning the Islamic call to prayer. Danish politician Kaare Dybvad announced on 26 June 2026 that he would push for legislation to prohibit the public broadcast of the *adhan*, arguing that it constitutes noise pollution. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Muslim organizations and human rights groups, who warn it would stigmatize religious minorities. “This is not about noise—it’s about silencing a community,” said Amina Abdullah, a spokesperson for the Danish Muslim Council.

Legal experts note that both the Belgian circumcision cases and the Danish *adhan* debate reflect a rising tide of restrictions on religious expression in Europe. In Belgium, prosecutors have argued that circumcision violates child protection laws, a claim rejected by pediatricians and religious authorities. The European Jewish Congress has labeled the prosecutions “a coordinated effort to erase Jewish identity,” while the Muslim World League condemned the Danish proposal as “a violation of religious freedom.”

Von Schnurbein’s intervention underscores the EU’s growing alarm over the erosion of religious rights. Her office has documented a 40% increase in antisemitic incidents across the bloc over the past year, with many linked to anti-Jewish rhetoric surrounding religious practices. The EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency has called for member states to uphold legal protections for religious minorities, warning that restrictions on circumcision or prayer could normalize discrimination.

As the debates intensify, Jewish and Muslim leaders are preparing legal challenges and public campaigns to defend their rights. The Belgian government has yet to respond formally to von Schnurbein’s warning, while the Danish proposal remains under review in parliament. For now, the twin controversies have thrust Europe’s commitment to religious pluralism into the spotlight, with von Schnurbein’s warning serving as a stark reminder of the stakes involved.