While animal welfare activists claim the process is cruel, Jews and Muslims say the rules dictated by their ancient religious texts cannot be changed. What do you think?
The full story from 成人快手 News
Your comments
sam
Quote from US laws: 搂 1902. Humane methods Release date: 2005-05-25 No method of slaughtering or handling in connection with slaughtering shall be deemed to comply with the public policy of the United States unless it is humane. Either of the following two methods of slaughtering and handling are hereby found to be humane: (a) in the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, and other livestock, all animals are rendered insensible to pain by a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut; or (b) by slaughtering in accordance with the ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith that prescribes a method of slaughter whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument and handling in connection with such slaughtering. End quote This seems to suggest that killing animals in the Jewish fashion done properly is as humane as other methods. Common sense is usually fairly rare, and those wishing to spare animals from needless suffering would do better to not buy your average battery chicken (or turkey). One should also try and separate the issues of suffering from those of 'foreign practices' which essentially reflect cultural and individual preferences. If I had the willpower, I would certainly be a vegeterian, though I have yet to find a vegetable as appealing as a rare steak! I do agree however, that the most humane method available should be used as we unlike most carnivores, have the ablility to reduce suffering.
Magnus Aronsson
Here in Sweden it is unlawful to perform Halal or Koscher killing of animals due to the animals rights. They can not be killed without being stunned before the killing. However, kitchen manufactureres wants to start making the line according to halal and claim that the majority of Swedes which are not muslims or jews think that they do not want halal since it is cruel to animals. This is not entirely true either because all the protestants (92% of the population) thinks that it is also food made for non protestants in means of religious rites that are non christian. We do not want halal chicken and compare it to force a muslim to drink holy water or eat meat rited under mid-winter blot (This is done by the minority who has Norse religion in Scandinavia).
Laura Beth Aaron
Tradition is just not enough if the result is hideous suffering for the mere satisfaction of taste. Since the Jewish religion at its core mandates Tsa Ar Be Alei Chayim, never inflict needless suffering upon animals, and there is absolutely ZERO requirement for their flesh in our diets, it is sin and crime against them to slaughter them anyway. Eating flesh results in the most low and merciless behaviors from the human being and this world has reached its all time lowest. For global agriculture to be qall about feeding animals instead of humans, is the devils delight. Humane kosher slaughter is a huge oxymoron. If we would not wish something upon ourselves, we should NOT inflict it upon any other living thing. Imagine the world living with this ethic.
Barbie
Tracey Fereday, Lisa, Allen, George Medding and Angelica say everything that needs to be said. I totally agree with them. I would love to be a vegetarian,I was for 7 years, but I did miss meat. I do believe animals were put here for our food, but I like to know they have been treat the best to the very end.
pika
animals are sentient, feeling, thinking beings. They are capable of emotions and love like human beings. Anyone who supports any slaughter of beautiful creatures is barbaric and will burn in hell.
Crowfoot
I feel perhaps a problem here is the lack of authentic covenantal relationship with higher spiritual powers present in both the scientific and the traditional religious experience of today. It seems obvious that on all sides people are trying to do what they percieve as correct in dealing with the naturally emotional reality of needing to kill other beings if one wishes to be sustained by their meat. If we truly wish to know, however, what is best in this case, I recommend either asking the cows, or asking higher spiritual powers who would know these things. The answer is likely removing mass meat industries in general, and restoring a more connected way of raising our food, which in turn would lead to people who were more adept at naturally and effectively communicating and understanding the wants, needs, and feelings of our animal friends, and less reliant on biased scientific theories and outdated religious dogma. Until then...
George Powell
George Powell Ritual Slaughter as part of the Jewish religion goes back to the very ancient times of unenlightened savagery, to a time when the Jews thought it was God ordained to slaughter men, women, and even the little male children as they invaded there promised land (Numbers 31:17-18). The Jews would also stone adulterers, and bash juvenile delinquents to death with bricks, and later over in Islam, Muslim justice was to chop off the hands of thieves, these are actions that should seem 鈥渕onstrous鈥 to our civilised society today, so how come Ritual Slaughter which is really a vestige of this bygone barbaric age, is still tolerated in the UK?. Certainly as we evolve spiritually we have to keep making adjustments in line with our current understanding of life and existence, and what is it that we have learnt to date?, that animals like us are sentient, feeling creatures, with complex social structures, and they can experience terror, and feel pain and even grieve, and their desire is to stay alive just as we do. Surprisingly there are now a growing number of Jewish vegetarians who now find they have no necessity to kill animals to sustain themselves, yet they still follow a very meaningful, spiritual, life. In Islam, some of their holy men, now suggest a vegetarian diet for those seeking greater spirituality. Whether or not Kosher and Hallal slaughter is more humane than stunning, is a pointless debate, each way the animal suffers!. The crux of the matter is, 鈥渨hy do we still tolerate ruthless, homocentric brutality in religious practice, by those who claim to have true spirituality, yet think it is not a violation of higher principles to unnecessarily kill another living being, even though we today have a compassionate alternative鈥. Such Ritual Slaughter though masked by prayers over the unfortunate beast, should be recognized for what it is 鈥淏arbarity鈥 . Neither the Jewish nor Muslim community, can ever enjoy the lust of eating meat, without first committing, 鈥渙r paying others to commit鈥, an act of violence and murder against another fellow creature. Those who continue to follow such a practice will never come to know, or deserve to know, true peace of mind!. Dear 成人快手 If the opportunity arises, I would like to attend any debate on this matter or other aspects of religion and animal ethics. Yours Sincerely George
Annie
I agree with Sal about who's standard would one measure cruelty. But, a lot of the comments are quite ignorant stating that th ritual slaugther is more painful then stunning. There is no evidence that stunning doesn't cause pain. Electrical stunning involves passing a large voltage across the animal's brain. Early in the 19th century, the neurologists Sir Charles Bell in Britain and Francois Magendie in France recognised the distinctions - both anatomical and physiological - between the sensory and motor nervous systems. Electric stimulation of the skin with low voltages and currents causes a tingling sensation, while higher power causes pain and burns, due to action on the sensory nerve endings in the skin. If it is painful to touch the electric mains, then what about the large voltage applied in stunning to the animal? Anyway, both religions are quite old, so for them to have these techniques of surviving and being considerate to the animal's feeling, is quite extraordinary since there were people who would just beat the animal until it died, or wound it in which case, it was in pain for hours or days, until it finally died. But killing has to be painful no matter what. So, what is the least painful? I don't know. But I still appluad Judaism and Islam for their considerations.
C Cairns
Ritual slaughter is a disgrace to civilised society and should be stopped immediately. This debate highlights one of the biggest problems the world is facing, and one of the biggest choices that humanity has to make; do we chose faith (blind belief) over reason (rational, free enquiry)? I am fed up with terrible acts being committed in the name of faith, and seemingly immune to rational criticism. Ritual sacrifice demonstrates that religious beliefs can justify anything, no matter how much suffering and pain it needlessly inflicts on our world. These inhumane acts are committed purely because believers have faith that their actions are divinely inspired. Evidence clearly shows stunning to be more humane- the people justifying ritual slaughter, claiming there is "scientific evidence" that it is less painful than being stunned- where is this evidence; seriously, if you can find me a single respected vetinary, neurological or physiological publication providing a shred of evidence for this veiw, tell me where I can read it. Give me a link to it. Or tell me where I can buy it. Oh yes- you can't. And can somebody please, please give me one rational explaination why any non religious slaughterhouse worker causing unnecessary suffering to an animal will face up to 51 weeks in prison, a fine of up to 拢20,000, or both, and a religous person can clearly cause suffering completely legally? I will not respect somebodies "right" to needlessly inflight grave suffering on an animal, due to their blind faith and religious dogma, when there are clear cut alternatives. Our laws must stand up for reason, and the ethical actions it produces, no matter what the political impacts.
Sukvinder
This may be a little known fact to some people, but Sikhs like myself are forbidden from eating Halaal meat or Kosher meat. I'm finding that local butchers and fast food joints are opting for halaal meat. I find my growing lack of choice quite disturbing
A. Mulla
I have witnessed both halaal and kosher slaughtering, as well as stunning before slaughtering.think about it logically,the animal is going to get killed anyway.thats why chickens, cattle, etc are put in this, to be eaten, can you imagine how MANY of these livestock there would be if we took their feelings and pain into and never killed them.i have seen many ignorant comments regarding these ritual slaughtering,come on people, the u.k. claims to be educated and open minded, yeah right,find out information before jumping to conclusions.I am South African and disgusted at the small mindedness of the u.k.
fatima p
muslims and jews only slaughter animals for food. the real cruelty is when people kill for sport.
Danny Buoy
Let's first stop all the wars and terrorism. Then we can start to worry about animals.
rod godwin
I have just read the 1st responce at the top of the page. It says that we have more concern for animals than for God. Oh come on - Animals are real and sentient beings -your so called god is mythical nonsense - I am amazed hat people like you are naive enough to believ such ancient rubbish
Sal
By what and who's standard would one measure cruelty? Is western way of slaughtering has been confirmed as less cruel? Sorry, don't give me "common sense" rationale since there is no such thing in matters compmlicated as this. If Muslim or Jewish way is considered cruel, how can you say for sure that western way is not cruel? I think it is more to do with religious bashing than animal cruelty. In other words, what else can we pick on Muslims which is unique to them and go after them like banning of wearing scarf in French schools. It is the attitude towards the Muslims that should be debated and not the animal slaughtry since both groups slaughter the animals to eat them. Scientific or academic debate is acceptable, but "voting" to ban one group's way of slaughtering should not be acceptable specially if the group happens to be minority. I challenge each of the writer of this topic if they have seen or witnessed Muslim or Jewish slaughter method or they are just writing out of ignorance, (sheep mentality !)
LORNA HAYWARD
I think it cruel. animals have feelings to and a heart. all they are after s love and they need happiness just because they are smaller than us doesnt mean you have to be mean. if you want to pick on someone pick on a human not an animal think back what has an animals done for us. They helped us to see who we are. they helped to love and have happiness in there lifes. animals are the best (The 成人快手 cannot publish e-mail or telephone details) THINK BEFOE YOU ARE MEAN TO THE ANIMALS SHOULD YOU DO IT EMAIL BACK and for people who do hurt animals. STOP IT KNOW leave them alone. They dont get a life because of you lot animals should be left alone DONT have animals if you are man to them THINK BEFORE YOU DO IT
Tim
I think that religious laws - whatever they are - should never supersede laws of the state in which people live. If the country follows religious laws, fine.
mohamed m
as i read the comments on the page see that most of of the writers have more respect for the animals than god. what a sorry state - allthow it was intresting to read from sana that looks can be deceptive.
halal slaughtering may look more painful than the western method but it actually is not. we shouldnt go by how it looks but by what the animal feels. Scientific evidence through monitering ecg and eeg signals during slaughtering via electrodes attached to the animal show that the halal method of killing an animal is the most humane. The throat of the animal is cut with a very sharp knife cutting the jugular and carotid veins along with the trachea and oesphagus but leaving the spinal cord intact, because by severing the spinal cord it would cause the animal alot of pain. Through this way of slaughter there was no change in the eeg graph for the first three seconds...just the same how we can cut ourselves and not notcice til some time later. the following three seconds were characterised by a condition of deep sleep-like unconciousness brought about by the draining of large volumes of blood. thereafter the eeg records a zero reading showing no pain being felt at all. the bodily movements here are simply the reflex of the spinal cord and not because of pain.
Using the western method of stunning the animal looks peaceful but is in fact not. the eeg readings indicate severe pain immediately after stunning. In the halal way the animal dies from the starvation of blood and oxygen due to blood loss. the western method stops the heart while the animal still feels pain and because the body doesnt convulse there is often blood retention within the animal which of course isnt as clean to eat.
I will be killing a sheep myself for eid kabiar,along with thousands of fellow muslims to remember one story about abraham long ago writen down. of all the sheep that get killed these sheep are the most inportant and privileged.
Lesley
If ritual slaughter is more humane then why not have that for all animals? If you want to live in a country that has some animal rights (however minimal)then you should abide by them. There is nothing to stop peole becoming vegetarian.
Jed L
I would be a vegetarian if i liked vegetables but I don't, they make me sick, so unfortunately, the animals have die or I would. But, I would suggest that sana volunteer to test his claims by allowing himself to be slaughtered by the halal method and seeing how much pain he feels as a sharp knife severs his main arteries and windpipe, I mean come on, that's gotta hurt. Stunning a creature instantly renders it unconcious, and while unconcious you cannot feel pain, eeg readings can only display eletrical levels, but there's no proof those electrical signals are actually being percieved by the brain, in all probability in fact, they probably are not.
sana
looks can be deceptive. halal slaughtering may look more painful than the western method but it actually is not. we shouldnt go by how it looks but by what the animal feels.Scientific evidence through monitering ecg and eeg signals during slaughtering via electrodes attached to the animal show that the halal method of killing an animal is the most humane.The throat of the animal is cut with a very sharp knife cutting the jugular and carotid veins along with the trachea and oesphagus but leaving the spinal cord intact, because by severing the spinal cord it would cause the animal alot of pain. Through this way of slaughter there was no change in the eeg graph for the first three seconds.just how we can cut ourselves and not notcice til some time later. the following three seconds were characterised by a condition of deep sleep-like unconciousness brought about by the draining of large volumes of blood. thereafter the eeg records a zero reading showing no pain being felt at all. the bodily movements here are simply the reflex of the spinal cord and not because of pain. Using the western method of stunning the animal looks peaceful but is in fact not. the eeg readings indicate severe pain immediately after stunning. In the halal way the animal dies from the starvation of blood and oxygen due to blood loss. the western method stops the heart while the animal still feels pain and because the body doesnt convulse there is often blood retention within the animal which of course isnt as clean to eat.
david nolan
the method does not work. its as cruel and outdated as there evil religions
Joel Snibson
I'm all for the killing of animals as we are at the top of the food chain... If we can kill to eat, why not for fun??
stargazer
RELIGIOUS SLAUGHTER WAS ORIGINALLY DECIDED TO BE KIND TO ANIMALS-RELIGION SHOULD MOVE WITH THE TIMES! Just so people know, religious slaughter was introduced due to religious leaders getting together as they were unhappy at the then present method ofbeating animals in to unconcsiousness.They felt that this was cruel and unreligious. This was a very, very, very long time ago. They made this decision as they were concerned for the animals wellbeing (although if they really cared they wouldnt eat them!). Just because it was decided a long time ago people think that it must always stay like that, just like alowing women into higher religious positions eg.vicar. Religions should take this into account and decide weather the religious method is the least painfull for the animals in this day and age-it is not. However I want to stress very very clearly that HUMANE SLAUGHTER IS NEVER, EVER POSSIBLE, and even if the animals were killed in the least painfull way possible(yeah right) they would still be petrified as they smell the stench of death in the slaughterhouse and can hear the screams of their brothers, sisters, friends being murdered. Personally I am vegan, but people should realise that being vegetarian is very very easy and really its the least you can do for the animals, the planet, the third world and their own health!
Sheila Mahon
What makes a human being human is precisely the ability to understand that the suffering of an animal is more important than MAN MADE "traditions" & "customs". It's time we stop allowing cruel behavior to continue just because some group screeches about "traditions" and the intolerance of these traditions y "outsiders". And instead of doing the RIGHT thing, the powers that be just cave in for fear of being falsely labled as bigoted and let cruelty continue. Any tradition or custom that does not have compassion as it's formost concern is not worthy of protection. The hands that help are far, far holier than the hands that pray... "One act of pure love in saving life is greater than spending the whole of one's time in religious offerings to the gods." Dhammapada (Buddhism)
Shelly Martin
I campaigned against ritual slaughter way back in the 80s. From what I learnt the actual teachings do not say that animals cannot be pre-stunned it is just the 'tradition' that has been carried down. The reason halal meat got through into Bradford schools was because normal slaughter was not seen to be any less cruel than non stunned slaughter. Anyone who eats meat has to question what they are supporting and infact some meat that anti halal campaigners eat is actually halal meat.
L.Everton
The ritual slaughter of animals makes me think how religion used to ritually slaughter children. (Their bodies are still being found in the mountains.) Ritual slaughter is man's interpretation of God, and therefor probably very wrong. Why don't they come out of the dark ages, and smell the coffee?
LC Jackson
My abhorrence for ritual slaughter without any stunning has nothing to do with anti-semitism or anti-islamic predjudice. If something is unethical then it is irrelevant to me what any religious texts claim.
Orlin Olsen
Ritual slaughter is inhumane and cruel no matter how it is packaged. This kind of barbaric nonsense steeped in age old superstition has no place in a modern caring society. Animals are sentient beings with feelings just as we have. Religious nonsense can not be above Animal anti cruelty laws. Just take a look around the world and see the result of religious idiocy.
Anna Smith
I lobbied parliament last year in a bid to stop this repulsive practice. Its about time these religions came into the modern world. We used to have public hangings, adulterers stoned to death but WE have become more civilised - its about time the Jews and Muslims modernised their out-of-date practices.
Tony Wardle
Robin's comments that no one has dared to campaign against ritual religious slaughter are nonsense. Viva! (founded in Crewe but now in Bristol)has been campaigning vigorously for seven years and helped to get barbaric 'home slaughter' banned - where anyone could hack to death an anminal in their own backyard and which happened regularly in the name of someone's god. We have filmed every kind of slaughter - Jewish, Muslim and mainstream - and they are all sickening. There is no such thing as humane slaughter just as there is no such thing as humane execution. Cloaking killing it religious ceremony makes it even less acceptable in some ways as it masks the essential hypocricy - religions which boast of their compassion and care refuse to extend that concern to animals. The irony is that the animals get the last laugh - eating their protein, cholesterol and saturated fat are linked to all the major degenerative diseases such as heart disease, strokes,Alzheimers, some cancers, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure etc etc. No wonder vegetarians (and particulary vegans) are healthier and tend to live longer. It's because they're worth it!
kate
I missed the programme and was informed of the vote by an email friend. I am vegan because my conscience tells me it is wrong to kill. I am pleased that the majority of the messages posted are appalled at the cruelty, and agree that we are too PC now. I also agree that if people do not like the laws of this land. Get out. I dont care about race or creed or colour or birthright. If you incite terror, cause pain and suffering - to any living creature in the name of some religion then you are not a part of this land, and should be deported. Interesting from the guy in Brisbane. Are animal welfare issues better there? genuine question. The woman in Silverdale. hmm. where did she buy her blinkers? Ignorance is bliss to people like her. I know that people will always want meat - but surely they can take their food knowing the animal did not suffer during or at the end of its poor life. shame on those who dont care enough.
Don Quinoa
Where do you draw the line? Do you say it's also OK on religious grounds to resume stoning for adultery and cutting off hands for stealing too? However from the little I've seen of the elite Kosher butchers I saw practices that were far more humane , less stressfull and hygeinic than the torture chambers of the average ordinary slaughterhouses. It would be far easier if we just all went vegan.
TRACEY FEREDAY
We accept that animals have to be slaughtered to produce meat, but making an animal suffer longer or harder than it has to is cruel and inhumane!! If people wish to carry out these rituals they can do it in there own country where these rituals are accepted. This is the United Kingdom and we dont have these barbaric rituals as we dont believe in them!!!
Lisa
I didnt know this programme was on and turned over by accident, l didnt see the whole programme but what l did see absolutely shocked me, to the point l have decided to give up meat. The way that employee treated the animals was appalling and as for kosher l was totally shocked. I know many people out there will be thinking what did she think happened, and perhaps l am very niave, but not anymore. I didnt see the section on halal and l am glad know. What will stick in my mind the most was the pig in the yard laying there in sheer panic. I think anyone coming to this country should abide by our laws not their own, and l also think children need to know where meat comes from and how an animal dies although not watching this programme as its too hard hitting for children. I do hope that employee was sacked for his appalling behaviour to animals who new they were dying, an so much for saying small abbottoirs are more caring!!!
Cleo
At the end of the day, if you want to eat an animal it will have to be killed. The amount of ignorance on this comments board is astounding. After many hours of research before posting my comment, whatever method is used most animals will suffer, despite whatever mantra the fat cats are deluding themselves with. If you have a concience about this, as I do personally, don't eat meat! Show how you feel by spending your money on food other than meat- the industry will soon take notice if enough people have the guts to take a stand. It really is that simple.
Alan Fairhurst
Cruelty is cruelty. Religion does not lessen the suffering. Anyone wishing to live in this country should abide by our laws. If I chose to live in a muslim or jewish country I would expect to abide by their laws. It is terrible that superstition should dictate if a animal should suffer or not. I have seen what happens to animals that are kept for ritualistic food.
Allen
I posted on here earlier but forgot to add. I learnt about ritual slaughter some years ago. I believe it to be absolutley abhorent and an afront to modern society. Seeing that this government is quite happy to ban foxhunting, which I do agree with, on the grounds of cruelty i find it hypocritical in the extreme that it continues to permit this kind of inhumane cruelty and slaughter in the name of religious freedom. I decided a long time ago that I would not eat Hallal or Kosher meats even though that meant that I would no longer be able to eat my favourite restaurant curries or take away kebabs. I don't miss either at all now. Seeing that this government won't act then people who object can take the same route and object by refusing to eat those offensive products. If nationally that were to happen I wonder how long it would be before a change came about.
angelica
Some previous comments in this forum have said that ritual slaughter is humane. They can make such a claim due to the widespread ignorance of the process.
I'm enclosing here a description of ritual slaughter: "Animals are fully conscious when their carotid arteries are cut. This is supposed to cause unconsciousness within seconds, but because of blood flow through the vertebral arteries in the back of the neck, some animals can remain conscious as they bleed for up to a minute. Additionally, Temple Grandin, PhD notes 鈥淯nfortunately, there are some plants which use cruel methods of restraint such as hanging live animals upside down.鈥 This can cause broken bones as the heavy animal hangs by a chain attached to one leg."
Although all slaughter is cruel, at least Western European and North American laws have now, after long battles by animal welfarists, imposed certain conditions to make slaughter less painful for animals: the most important of these conditions is pre-stunning.
European and American laws make exceptions for ritual (Muslim and Jewish) methods of slaughter. I find it unacceptable that people who come to live in the West expect their host countries to change their own laws, which are the product of a long historical process of constantly widening the sphere of moral concern to include more and more beings (people of other colours, races, religions) different from ourselves.
What worries me about this topic are two things: first, the infliction of suffering on non-human animals; seccond, the slow, gradual, and apparently unrecognised by the majority, infiltration and imposition of Sharia law onto our own Western laws.
GEORGE MEDDINGS
THESE LAWS WERE MADE IN THEIR COUNTRYS. WHILE LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY, WHICH IS THEIR CHOICE, IT SEEMS THEY SHOULD ABIDE BY OUR LAWS
allan sharman
Well my views are simple to me; most of my working life was spent as a butcher. And worked within the slaughterhouse.
My thoughts are, were we not all appalled and sickened by the beheading of the poor souls captured in Iraq? Well its much the same for these poor animals, they have nothing like an stunning, the knife is just drawn across their throat. It鈥檚 just as barbaric as the act of beheading.
Another of my pet hates is that the amount of turkeys and chickens that will kill for the Christmas period. At least the manner in which they are killed is controlled to a very high standard, except for the Muslim where they do much the same as they do for all the lambs that are killed. If you want a turkey or chicken for Christmas why not go out and kill your own, we would then perhaps see a fall in the sales of such animals at this time of year.
FOSSIE
there we go again pushing our noses into something that has nothing to do with us, if they are ritual killing its not for the fun of it, they are doing it as a way of there culture. maybe not ours and we dont have to like it, just the same as they must shudder at some of the things we do. WHY DO WE GENERALLY AS NATION THINK WE ARE ALWAYS RIGHT mo brookes silverdale
harry
Religion again.....war and cruelty...and all in the name of something which is not provable
dave
the trouble is if you are native english u r not allowed to breathe. if u r ethnic in any way, can u get away with cruelty and racism? what a wonderful country this is becoming...
pete h
I just want to give you my standard commments when it comes to government regulations changing to satisfy foreigners requests. The rules of the country that an individual emmigrates to should be followed by them as with all residents of the country. Why should the rules change for someone new to the country. If they are rules they can't live with then they should go back from where they came from. I cannot understand elected officials forcing their fellow citizens to put up with the whims of the few, (Only in the west).
Liam L - Bentliee
I should imagine few people who listen to your show have hunted and killed an animal in some form or other. The idea is to make the animals end quick, not to leave it slowly to bleed to death. If people can`t abide by the laws set down in the countries they have chosen to settle in, then maybe its time for them to return home? Not meaning to sound racist, but its a fact. Sorry - Liam L
Dawn
When in Rome do as the Romans do.........comes to mind.
Stuart Young
Hmmmm what is acceptable in the name of religion? We have seen many of our nations laws bypassed and circumvented for minorities that claim that they are unable to adhere to the laws of this land purely on the basis of religion. This particular law was passed to stop animal cruelty and suffering in this country yet religious groups claim that they are unable to adhere to these fundamental laws. I worked as a butcher many years ago and had many occasions to visit the slaughter house where the practice was to render the animal unconscious before it was slaughtered. I know this to be fact as I accidentally picked up the electric tongs used to stun and they were turned on, I came around in the tea room wondering what had happened, I remembered nothing between picking up the tongs and when I came around some 2 hours later. For Jews and Muslims to claim that their religion forbids the stunning of an animal before slaughter is complete nonesense, after an animal has been stunned and rendered unconscious (not dead therefore its heart is still beating as required by both Halhal and kosher practices) it would not feel or be aware of the rest of the slaughter process. It is disgusting that these people are allowed to flout anti cruelty laws, what next? Koreans to beat dogs to death in the market place in Hanley because they claim it makes the meat more tender to terrorise the dogs and kill them extremely painfully??
Chris H
Having your throat slit and bleeding to death is painless? What? All experts (and anyone with any common sense) say that the Jewish / muslim way of slaughter is far more painful so it must be banned.
Allen H
Whether or not a particular method of animal slaughter is pain free (humane)or painful (cruel)has to be a matter of opinion in view of the fact that we are not going to experience the process ourselves and even if we did we would not be able to come back and say. Although I am myself a meat eater, I have to accept that the meat that I am eating has come from an animal that may have experienced pain and fear at the time it was killed. My only hope is that its pain was minimal and as short as is possible. I also happen to believe that stunning is the most humane method. No matter what the religion calls for, cutting flesh causes pain, we all know that, we feel it ourselves. The fact that an animals throat is cut severing all blood flow to the brain whether it be instantaneuos or not does not gaurantee that it feels no pain or fear. I am sure that at the time when the Jewish and Muslim method of slaughter was established it was probably the right and most humane way but that was many hundreds of years ago and to say that because it is a religous dictat it cant be changed is ridiculous. Anything can be changed if there is a will to do so. I am quite sure that no god would wish pain and suffering on any species.
Robin
Interesting isn't it. Animal rights activists regularly terrorise people whom they perceive to be hurting animals. But did you ever see one demonstrating outside a kosher or halal killing shed? Of course not; that would require courage.
Adrian Pepper
The Muslim and Jewish methods of animal slaughter are more humane - and their holy texts forbid cruelty to animals. The animal feels no pain and dies instantly, unlike stunning which releases dangerous toxins into the carcass of animals. The so called animal welfare experts should think about the millions of animals which suffer the pain of being misstunned rather than picking on minority groups.
Dave W
I do not hide the fact that I come from a religious background, and thus support the right of religious communities to practise animal slaughter in their prescribed way. Not only because it is a religious right, but becuase such methods are in fact humane. Let me make three points: First, the term ritual slaughter is misleading. It conjures up images of pagan witchcraft, not the clinical process of animal slaughter for food that is practised by religious communities. Secondly, while animal welfare activists claim the process of animal slaughter practised by Jews and Muslims is cruel, there is in fact substantial scientific evidence to show that the religious method is at least as humane than other slaughter methods. Thirdly, the practise of the religious method of animal slaughter was introduced to minimise cruelty to animals. It is practised exactly becuase it is humane.
Chris H
Why do the government seem so scared to reflect the views of the majority of the country for fear of offending a small minority? Surely these practices contravene laws regarding animal cruelty and just because minority religious groups implement such cruel methods doesn't mean they should be allowed.
carey moreton
Cruelty is cruelty is cruelty. Honestly, when will horrible practices in the name of religion be seen for what they are? There is no excuse for this and I can't believe God would say there is.
