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Home > Public space > Belgium > 2010-04-29 - Council of State, ASBL Église de la Fraternité Évangélique de (...)

2010-04-29 - Council of State, ASBL Église de la Fraternité Évangélique de Pentecôte en Afrique et en Belgique et autres, n. 203428

Public space · Belgium · Freedom of religion · Place of worship

A public injunction to close a place of worship for safety reasons does not prevent the religious group to find another one

Key facts of the case - The place of worship of the applicant was closed by decision of the competent authority for safety reasons (use of electric material and candles without declaration nor control from the fire service); the applicant claimed the suspension of that decision.

Main reasoning of the court - The suspension was denied on the grounds of the existence of other Evangelical places of worship (churches) in the neighborhood, so that the damage was nor grave nor irreparable. The restrictive measure was considered a justified limitation of religious freedom.