Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden has granted a six-month extension to the Muslim Council of Belgium (CMB), allowing the representative body more time to address governance issues. The decision, announced on June 18, 2026, follows concerns over the council's compliance with legal requirements for recognition.
The CMB, which serves as an interlocutor between Belgian authorities and the Muslim community, has faced repeated criticism over its internal functioning. Verlinden's extension gives the council until December 2026 to implement reforms, including improving transparency and electoral processes.
This is not the first time the CMB has received a reprieve. In 2024, a similar extension was granted after the council failed to meet deadlines for restructuring. The ongoing delays have raised questions about the effectiveness of the recognition process for Islamic representative bodies in Belgium.
