Belgian Government Expels Turkish Mosque Imams Deemed Homophobic

JAKARTA - Belgium expelled a Turkish priest to leave the country because of posting messages deemed homophobic on social media.

Authorities said Imam Turki asked for an extension of his stay permit, but was refused. The imam of the mosque in northern Belgium was given 30 days to leave Belgium.

"As an imam you have an exemplary role, especially if you have been granted the right to work in Belgium. Anyone who refuses to respect our values will certainly accept the consequences," said Deputy Minister of Migration, Sammy Mahdi, in a statement.

Quoting Al Araby, Friday, January 29, 2021, the decision was made in mid-December 2020. Then it was confirmed after immigration officials spoke with the imam in mid-January. The decision can be appealed.

Authorities said the priest, who was not identified, had published hate speech to the LGBT community, especially on Facebook. The reaction to the post points to incitement to hatred, the Belgian Government said.

In the post, the mosque imam was referring to a sermon delivered last week by the Turkish President of the Directorate for Religious Affairs, Ali Erbaş, who once publicly stated that: "Islam condemns homosexuality." The directorate, known as the Diyanet, appointed the priest to work in Belgium.

A source familiar with the case said the priest served at the Yesil Camii Mosque which serves the Turkish community in Houthalen-Helchteren, in the Flemish region of Limbourg. The mosque received public funding because it was listed as a recognized place of worship, but local authorities are now trying to suspend it from that list.

Home Affairs and Flemish Integration Minister Bart Somers said he would take legal action against the mosque to revoke its permit. Houthalen-Helchteren city council officials will consider taking appropriate action against the mosque.

"Discriminatory messages against democracy, a constitutional state are unacceptable," said Mayor Alain Yzermans.

Belgium is a friendly country with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. In 2003, this country became the second country in the world to grant permission for gay and lesbian couples to marry.

Initially the country imposed regulations requiring both parties to recognize same-sex marriage. However, the regulation was repealed in October 2004.

Now, same-sex couples can marry only on the condition that they have lived in Belgium legally for three months. In fact, same-sex marriages account for about 2.5 percent of all marriages in Belgium.