Denmark Bans Kosher And Halal Slaughter Saying ‘Animal Rights Come Before Religion’
A ban on halal and kosher slaughter without prior stunning of animals has come into effect in Denmark.
By Sadho Ram — 25 Feb 2014, 07:16 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
A Ban On Kosher And Halal Slaughter In Denmark Began Monday, 24 February 2014
Denmark’s 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.
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Packages of Halal food are displayed at the Halal show which presents food products for Muslim clients which are prepared following Islamic dietary laws, in Paris.
Image via alarabiya.netThe 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.
The ban on kosher/halal slaughter in Denmark has been slammed as an 'interference with religious freedom'
Image via independent.co.ukTraditionally, in order to be considered kosher under Jewish law or halal under Islamic law, animals must be conscious when killed. The new rule, which follows similar regulations in other European countries, requires animals be stunned before slaughter.
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Announcing The Ban Last Week, Danish Agriculture And Food Minister Dan Jorgensen Said, "Animal Rights Come Before Religion"
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.
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Yet defending his government’s decision to remove this exemption, the minister for agriculture and food Dan Jørgensen told Denmark’s TV2 that “animal rights come before religion”.
Jørgensen once served as president of the Animal Welfare Intergroup, which advocates animal welfare and conservation issues, and he has been widely cited as arguing that that the imperative to legally protect animal welfare trumps religious liberty.
The Ban Has Stirred Deep Controversy Among Muslim And Jewish Groups Both Within The Country And Beyond
The ban was called anti-Semitic by Israel’s deputy minister of religious services; similarly, the Danish non-profit group Danish Halal decried the ban as a clear infringement of religious freedom.
Commenting on the change, Israel’s 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.”
Al Jazeera quoted the monitoring group Danish Halal, which launched a petition against the ban, as saying it was “a clear interference in religious freedom limiting the rights of Muslims and Jews to practice their religion in Denmark”.
aljazeera.com
The Decision Is Likely To Cost Denmark Millions Of Dollars In Trade And Tourism Revenues
The controversial decision is poised to have a drastic effect on the Danish market since the country is likely to come under a comprehensive boycott as it has on more than one occasion in the past, according to a report in Arab News daily.
The decision effectively ends the sale of halal products, much to the anger of residents across the Kingdom. Sources at the media department of the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) have said that the ban should be lifted with immediate effect, saying that it would strain bilateral trade between the two countries, estimated at SR6 billion.
hannibal.netThe Danish Ministry For Food, Agriculture, And Fisheries Has Released A Statement Addressing The New Regulation On Kosher And Halal Slaughter
"No slaughter without pre-stunning has been registered in Denmark in the last ten years. It is still permitted to import meat slaughtered without pre-stunning. And a very large amount of Danish meat has been, and will continue to be, halal slaughtered, with the animal stunned right before slaughter," says Jørgensen.
Following The Ban On The Religious Slaughter Of Animals, Denmark Has Attempted To Play Down Growing Criticism By Muslims, Saying “Islamic Principles Is Still Legal In Denmark”
Amid calls by Islamic leaders for governments to stop importing Danish meat, Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Dan Jorgensen said in a statement on Sunday that “such (halal) slaughter is still legal in Denmark”.
The Danish Embassy in Riyadh also tried to diffuse the situation, telling Arab News “there is no ban on Islamic slaughter in Denmark and animal sacrifice according to Islamic principles is still legal in Denmark”.