Ban Halal & Kosher Slaughter of Animals in the UK

Halal and kosher slaughter of animals should be outlawed, Britain's leading vet said today.

John Blackwell, president-elect of the British Veterinary Association, has argued the ritual killing of poultry, sheep and cattle by cutting their throats causes unnecessary suffering to animals.

Traditionally, Jewish and Islamic slaughter practices involve animals having their throats slit and the blood drained because it is 'humane'

But Mr Blackwell, who has been accused of 'inflaming prejudice' by religious leaders, says animals must be stunned before the cut because some will be conscious for up to two minutes before death.

• Muslims and Jews are asked to use more 'acceptable' methods of killing
• John Blackwell wants Government to consider a ban on kosher or halal  
• President of British Veterinary Association says all should be stunned first
• 6,000 animals are killed in religious abattoirs every week in Britain
• Religious groups call his advice 'misleading' and will 'inflame prejudice'
• Denmark banned the practice last months despite huge protests

The Danish government has been accused of religious persecution after it banned the religious slaughter of animals for halal and kosher meat.

Despite huge pressure from the Muslim and Jewish communities not to, the practice was banned in Denmark last month as the country's Minister for Food, Dan Jorgensen, maintained that 'animal rights come before religion'.

Mr Blackwell said British abattoirs should follow Denmark's example.

'Our view has always been that animals should be stunned. They should be imperceptible to pain as death supervenes,' he told Radio 4's Today programme.


HOW AND WHY RELIGIONS DEMAND RITUAL SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS

HALAL
Halal slaughtering involves cutting through the large arteries in the neck with one swipe of a blade, while a Muslim butcher recites a religious verse. 
All blood is then drained away since the consumption of blood is forbidden under Islamic law.
Under Islamic law, an animal must be slaughtered by having its throat cut while it is conscious.

KOSHER
According to the laws, in order for a meat to kosher it must come from an animal that means the kosher rules.
These are the animal must be ruminant and have split hooves. Ruminant animals chew food once and swallow, before regurgitating it and chewing again.
Animals that Jews can eat include cows, sheep, goats and deer.
They cannot eat pigs despite the fact it has split hooves because it is not a ruminant animal.

Before slaughtering, the animal must be healthy and uninjured and a sharp knife is used to slice through the main arteries and windpipe, causing a drop in blood pressure that causes the animal to lose consciousness. Jews believe this is a way of killing that shows 'respect and compassion' as set out in Jewish law.

NOTE: KFC are currently running trials whereby only halal chicken is available in their stores - this includes the one on Alfreton Rd, Nottingham - please boycott all KFCs stores especially this one