EU Admits that BNP is Right, Calls for Ban on “Inhumane” Halal Ritual Slaughter

**Trevortt** · 10-02-2009, 12:38 PM

The incredible has happened: The European Union has agreed that BNP policy on ritual slaughter is correct, and is preparing to ban the practice under new plans announced yesterday.

The European Commission has circulated a draft proposal which states that animals facing slaughter are “spared any avoidable pain, distress or suffering.”

Under the proposals all animals facing slaughter would have to be electrically stunned beforehand. The EU plans apparently contain an “opt-out clause” for countries wanting to continue to allow religious slaughter, probably as a sop to France and Britain, two nations with large and growing Muslim populations.

In its reaction, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was quoted as saying that the “The RSPCA recognises that religious practices should be respected, but we consider that scientific research has clearly demonstrated that slaughter of an animal without stunning can cause unnecessary suffering. This is not about religion; it’s about animal welfare.”

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs launched a consultation last month on the best way to implement the EU rules in Britain.

A spokeswoman for the department said: “Ministers are currently minded to allow the exemption to continue, but it is important to have a consultation to hear other views.”

Halal meat is a big business in the UK. Last year the Government approved a deal which could allow 5,000 halal butchers from Pakistan to travel to this country to take up work.

In a seminar entitled “Why we shun the stun”, Shuja Shafi, chairman of the Muslim Council of Britain’s food standards committee, said religious demands meant animals had to be “alive, healthy and conscious at the time of slaughter.”

A scientific study by the Government’s Farm Animal Welfare Council in 2003 found that animals could remain fully conscious for up to two minutes after having their throats cut. It said all animals should be stunned before slaughter.

Source

One day I may wake up and find that the name Islam and everthing to do with it was just a hideous nightmare, at the moment I find it revolts me so much that I could scream and scream why in the name of God did those politicians allow this nightmare into Britain.

**DTE** · 10-02-2009, 01:17 PM

Probably going to get some stick for this...but here goes.

Whats the big deal? In the end the cow is just as dead. I remember seeing footage of a ritual slaughter of a cow, halal syle. It was longer that a normal slaughter, but still the whole process took less than 15 seconds. I think the only way someone could have a legitimate beef (not intended) with this is if they are vegetarian. Any meat eater has no moral authority whatsoever over how the animal they chose to eat is butchered.

But I guess 'EU says BNP is right' is too snappy a title to pass up on eh Trevor?

**Opinionated** · 10-02-2009, 01:18 PM

You do realise that Kosher butchers have always practised in an identical way?

**Midas** · 10-02-2009, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dr The Evidence

Probably going to get some stick for this...but here goes.

You're certainly not alone in thinking this. Like most, I'm all in favour of a quick, clean death for any animal, but a halal or kosher killing method is millennia-old and no-one's complained about it until now, when there's sufficient public antipathy against Islam to be able to link it to 'the dreaded Muslim word'. This seems rather like regulation for regulation's sake, especially if it'll stir up some sort of conflict along the way! People!!!!

**Kingy_0** · 10-02-2009, 11:09 PM

I'll have to probably consider myself an insensitive person now, but I cannot really see an issue with Halal way of culling animals. Ultimately we are omnivores so we are supposed to eat meat as apart of our diet, should it really matter so greatly the methods employed to slaughter it?

More importantly would this be such a big issue had halal slaughter been a British tradition, I don't necessarily see this as a heavily pressing issue that needs to be addressed.

In my opinion it's just another Political Correctness stunt, silly and pointless. Protection for animals???

How about protection and correct care of people, are incessant need for wars something that need to be addressed before we look at the lesser issues of humanity..... anyway that's enough rant for one night.

**Opinionated** · 11-02-2009, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Kingy_0

I'll have to probably consider myself an insensitive person now, but I cannot really see an issue with Halal way of culling animals. Ultimately we are omnivores so we are supposed to eat meat as apart of our diet, should it really matter so greatly the methods employed to slaughter it?

More importantly would this be such a big issue had halal slaughter been a British tradition, I don't necessarily see this as a heavily pressing issue that needs to be addressed.

In my opinion it's just another Political Correctness stunt, silly and pointless. Protection for animals???

How about protection and correct care of people, are incessant need for wars something that need to be addressed before we look at the lesser issues of humanity..... anyway that's enough rant for one night.

Totally agree I don't see how anyone who is not a vegetarian could have a problem. I am not a veggie, but I only eat white meat or fish (and try where possible to buy free-range and from sustainable sources) and I should think if any meat eater was concerned about the welfare of his/her dinner then it would be how it was cared for before slaughter that would count.

Citizen Smith · 11-02-2009, 05:56 PM

yEah, im a crazy veggie, and it seems suspicious how some carnivores can go on about killing animals being natural and fine.....(especially hunting supporters) and then change view to suite them. Now you think its wrong?
I have no problem with carnivores- but this just seems like you've based your view on the group of people involved. (But i may be wrong of course)

**SussexWithLove** · 13-02-2009, 11:57 PM

You could get all religious and say all animals are gods creatures. If your dog had to be put down you wouldn’t want to kill it Halal style would you?

I know you don’t eat your dog, but in some cultures you may.

This isnt about being politically correct when life is involved.

I personally don’t think about how my steak was killed, I'm more worried about how it was cooked.

**monkshood** · 14-02-2009, 10:18 AM

If we are going to keep animals for food then they should be reared humanly . and slaughtered humanly. and I cannot understand anyone that says otherwise..the cutting of an animal's throat and letting it bleed to death without first stunning it is inhumane. animals feel fear and pain as much as any human..

**SussexWithLove** · 15-02-2009, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by monkshood

If we are going to keep animals for food then they should be reared humanly . and slaughtered humanly. and I cannot understand anyone that says otherwise..the cutting of an animal's throat and letting it bleed to death without first stunning it is inhumane. animals feel fear and pain as much as any human..

I agree. I don’t really think how the animal was killed while I'm tucking into Burger, however I would like to think they didn’t give the animal unnecessary pain.