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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDenmark bans halal and kosher slaughter as minister says ‘animal rights come before religion’
Denmarks government has brought in a ban on the religious slaughter of animals for the production of halal and kosher meat, after years of campaigning from welfare activists. The change to the law, announced last week and effective as of yesterday, has been called anti-Semitism by Jewish leaders and a clear interference in religious freedom by the non-profit group Danish Halal.
European regulations require animals to be stunned before they are slaughtered, but grants exemptions on religious grounds. For meat to be considered kosher under Jewish law or halal under Islamic law, the animal must be conscious when killed.
Yet defending his governments decision to remove this exemption, the minister for agriculture and food Dan Jørgensen told Denmarks TV2 that animal rights come before religion.
Commenting on the change, Israels deputy minister of religious services Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan told the Jewish Daily Forward: European anti-Semitism is showing its true colours across Europe, and is even intensifying in the government institutions.
Is saying an animal has to be stunned before it is slaughtered anti-Semitic?
truebrit71
(20,805 posts)But seriously, there is no good reason to increase the suffering an animal goes through to provide you with sustenance just to placate the whims of imaginary gods...
Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)and in Denmark zoo workers just killed and cut up a zoo giraffe (in front of kids) even though they had reputable offers to take the giraffe or they could have neutered Marius.
And I'm not sure it's more humane to stun animals. Nothing humane about slaughtering animals- period.
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)in front of a live audience.
Feral Child
(2,086 posts)It isn't.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Funny that.
Lizzie Poppet
(10,164 posts)I give not a single fuck if someone's religious sensibilities are upset over such a ban.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)Both Muslim and Jewish reaction has been negative within Denmark (and elsewhere).
The question is: Should a government be able to interdict religious practice absent clear scientific evidence that a practice is actually detrimental. Is using a "device the size of a hand-held drill (that is) is brought to the animal's head, a trigger pulled and a four-inch bolt shot into its brain" more humane than a procedure in which "the animal's neck is cut with a surgically sharp knife, severing its major arteries, causing a massive drop in blood pressure followed by death from loss of blood. Supporters say unconsciousness comes instantaneously - the cut itself stunning the animal." See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14779271
Who knows. The description of either method is enough to make one abandon meat altogether. My grandmother used to slaughter her own chickens. I never asked how she did it.
LuvNewcastle
(16,846 posts)Until they're able to come up with something else, I think they should allow kosher and halal slaughters to continue.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Burkas in driver's license photos is anti Muslim. .
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)they could easily import kosher meat from another country such as Germany.
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)She was old and sick - the vet first gave her a shot that prevents pain, then the lethal shot.
I'm not anti-semitic, but it is a nice idea. Surely they don't think god likes to see creatures suffer....
Most hunters would agree. They respect and love the animals they kill and use for food. A quick death for any animal who must be put down for any reason.