Dutch MPs vote to ban religious slaughter

A bill which would ban halal and kosher slaughter methods has passed through the Dutch parliament, despite opposition from Muslim and Jewish groups who say a ban would impinge on their religious freedoms.

The bill, which was passed overwhelmingly by parliamentarians on Wednesday, still has to pass through the Dutch senate, which is unlikely before the summer recess.

The Dutch cabinet said on Monday that the law may be unenforceable in its current form due to the ambiguity of a last-minute amendment that says religious slaughter licenses can be granted if they can "prove" that it does not cause animals more pain than stunning.

If the Netherlands outlaws procedures that make meat kosher for Jews or halal for Muslims, it would be the second country after New Zealand to do so in recent years. Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland also ban religious slaughter.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/06/201162945027320392.html

...I dont see any reason to permit inferior slaughter methods for religous reasons.

has repudiated the Netherlands' historic commitment to religious freedom ... Dutch Jews must not be put to the choice of violating a central tenet of Judaism, foregoing fresh meat, or emigrating. We call upon the Dutch Senate to prevent this action from leading to a clear violation of religious freedom that has a disproportionate impact on the Jewish community." The bill is based on the false premise that kosher slaughter, or shechita, which involves a single cut with a razor-sharp knife to minimize pain, is less humane than slaughter with pre-stunning by electrocution, gassing or a bolt shot to the animal's forehead ...
ADL Condemns Dutch Vote Against Kosher Slaughter
New York, NY, June 28, 2011
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/RelChStSep_90/6077_90.htm

turn any one into a vegan.

But I will be the first to admit I am so uncomfortable with the thought of making animal suffer needlessly for religious reasons.

I wonder if there would be a way to sedate the animals in religious slaughter?