Five Turkish imams could lose their right to live and work in Belgium after being found receiving funds from outside the country – a prohibited practice by the Belgian authorities.
According to Belga News Agency, the imams had been living in Belgium for four years and worked in many mosques across the country, such as Antwerp, Sint-Niklaas, Ghent, Diest and Lommel, under the Turkish Diyanet network, Schengen.News reports.
The Turkish nationals were informed about their situation when they applied for work permit renewals on September 5. Their applications were denied after a screening by the Flemish authorities revealed that the imams had received funding from the Turkish state.
Since May 2024, the Belgian government has prohibited economic migrants from being funded by foreign countries, with this ban impacting especially the religious leaders.
Imams Have 3 Months Left to Find New Jobs or Will Be Expelled
According to the rules, the imams have three months left to find a new employer, and if they fail to do so, Belgium’s Federal Immigration Office could order their expulsion.
The European Union rules reveal that a lapsed work permit automatically leads to the revocation of a residence permit. If the imams decide to appeal the decision, they have 60 days left to do so.
The Flemish minister, Zuhal Demir, decided not to renew the permits, as there is a growing concern about foreign government interference.
This is about funding from a foreign government. We cannot turn a blind eye. Zuhal Demir, Minister of Education
Data published by the News Agency shows that so far this year, 51 applications for work permits from religious leaders were submitted in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking area in Belgium. Around 36 of them were approved, which shows an approval rate of 70.5 per cent. In 2023, the approval rate was 72 per cent, with 48 out of 66 work permit requests being granted.
Belgium Introduces Changes to Work Permit Regulations
Starting October 2024, foreigners applying for work permits in the Brussels Capital Region will have to follow less stringent rules.
The authorities have announced that the threshold will be based on a percentage of the average gross monthly salary in the Brussels Capital Region, which currently stands at €4,604. Based on their jobs, the gross amount per month will also vary.
Except for work permits, Belgium has also made changes to the Blue Card directive, allowing internationals with five years of professional experience to qualify as highly skilled workers. This means that a diploma is no longer a mandatory requirement for these types of jobs.
Source: https://schengen.news/5-turkish-imams-to-lose-belgian-work-permits-for-receiving-funds-from-abroad/
