Muslim community in Belgium opposes new sexual education methods in schools

ANKARA

The Muslim community in Belgium contested new sexual education methods in schools on Wednesday, according to a statement.

"This decision seems to confront the universal and inviolable values of the familial education framework, and the interests of the students and their families," Muslim associations said in a statement on social media.

The EVRAS program on relational, affectional and sexual life "raises major concerns when it comes to its means of application and the messages that it will deliver," according to the group, who said decision-makers must recognize families' right to choose their children's education.

Expressing "total disagreement" with the program, the group said it was against the "hypersexualization" of children.

"We also fear that the EVRAS program could erode the religious freedom and parents' rights to guide their children's education according to their beliefs," it said and urged authorities to hear the concerns.

It also noted that the program violates children's rights.

The statement was signed by seven associations including the Diyanet Foundation, Islamic Federation of Belgium, Federation of Albanian Mosques in Belgium, Belgium African Mosques Union, Liege Mosques Union, Belgium Bosnian Islamic Community and Ehli-Beyt Turkish Islamic Culture Center.

Expert teams will go to schools as part of the EVRAS program to give students a sexual, affectional and biological education via animations.

The project which will be adopted in parliament Thursday, targets 85,000 students in the French-speaking Wallonia region and 25,000 in Brussels.