Article

2003-06-10 Britain

Well, this'll rattle a few cages...
The method of animal slaughter used by Jews and Muslims should be banned immediately, according to an independent advisory group. The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), which advises the government on how to avoid cruelty to livestock, says the way Kosher and Halal meat is produced causes severe suffering to animals. Both the Jewish and Muslim religions demand that slaughter is carried out with a single cut to the throat, rather than the more widespread method of stunning with a bolt into the head before slaughter. Kosher and Halal butchers deny their method of killing animals is cruel and have expressed anger over the recommendation. One worshipper at the Central London Mosque told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Everything about the Islamic way of life is under attack so it makes you wonder if this is actually about humanity to animals."
"These damn infidels won't allow sharia, jihad, Jew-lynching..."
Peter Jinman, president of the British Veterinary Association said vets respected people's religious beliefs, but urged Muslims to be respectful of animals too. "We're looking at what is acceptable in the moral and ethical society we live in," he told Today. FAWC said it wanted an end to the exemption currently allowed for Kosher and Halal meat from the legal requirement to stun animals first. It says cattle can take up to two minutes to bleed to death - amounting to an abuse of the animals. "This is a major incision into the animal and to say that it doesn't suffer is quite ridiculous," said FAWC chairwoman, Dr Judy MacArthur Clark. Compassion in World Farming backed the call, saying: "We believe that the law must be changed to require all animals to be stunned before slaughter."

Muslims and Jews argue that their long established method of slaughter results in a sudden loss of blood from the head, causing animals to feel virtually nothing. They say they will fight any attempt to prevent a practice required by their religion and central to their way of life. One rabbi, who had been practicing the Jewish method of animal slaughter for around 40 years, told BBC News: "The process takes a fraction of a second. "With a very, very sharp knife all the vessels in the neck are severed and that means there's no blood going to the brain and the animal loses consciousness very rapidly and dies soon after that." The Muslim Council of Britain says animals are not distressed when they are slaughtered. "It's a sudden and quick haemorrhage. A quick loss of blood pressure and the brain is instantaneously starved of blood and there is no time to start feeling any pain," said spokesman Dr Majid Katme.

The Humanists movement, which has previously called for the abolition of ritual slaughter, said ethical values should be put above religious ones. "There is no imperative for Muslims or Judaists to eat meat produced in this manner," said spokesman Roy Saich. "There is no reason why they should not simply abstain from eating meat altogether if they do not wish to eat the same meat as the rest of us."

That's a pretty good indication of who he thinks is in charge. Obviously these busybodies don't have anything better to do with their time...

Posted by Bulldog 2003-06-10 11:12 am|| || Front Page|| [10 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 it would be nice to see obervant jews and muslims rallying together against this stupidity, but the timing's not real good. Too bad they didnt wait till the road map was further along.

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-06-10 12:25:18|| 2003-06-10 12:25:18|| Front Page Top

#2 Well, a test could be rigged up. You know, brain electrodes to register any pain at the point-in-time of the cutting. The tough question is, which "busybody" could we get to volunteer for the test?

Posted by Anonymous 2003-06-10 12:38:33|| 2003-06-10 12:38:33|| Front Page Top

#3 Speaking of ritual slaughter, what's up in the Congo?

Posted by mojo 2003-06-10 12:41:05|| 2003-06-10 12:41:05|| Front Page Top

#4 Funny you should ask... But where are the Frenchies?

Posted by Fred 2003-06-10 13:00:42|| 2003-06-10 13:00:42|| Front Page Top

#5 The Frenchies are boning up on their required Joseph Conrad novels reading before they embark on their Great Adventureâ¢.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2003-06-10 15:08:00|| 2003-06-10 15:08:00|| Front Page Top

12:33 Whiskey Mike
12:32 M. Murcek
12:27 Abu Uluque
12:16 M. Murcek
12:14 Abu Uluque
12:13 MikeKozlowski
12:12 Frank G
12:10 MikeKozlowski
12:09 Skidmark
12:04 Skidmark
12:03 Abu Uluque
12:00 M. Murcek
11:56 Abu Uluque
11:51 M. Murcek
11:50 Skidmark
11:46 Skidmark
11:45 M. Murcek
11:43 M. Murcek
11:41 M. Murcek
11:31 Skidmark
11:31 M. Murcek
11:29 Glenmore
11:27 Skidmark
11:25 M. Murcek